REGULAR supporters used to freeing up their Thursdays for race meetings must switch to this Tuesday for Taunton's next meeting (writes Mike Allen).

There's more than £33,000 up for grabs on a card headlined by The Placepot Handicap Steeplechase.

Run over 2 miles 3 furlongs, it's the fifth race of the afternoon and one certainly worth waiting for.

The good looking Taunton Racecourse Seminar Centre Novices' Hurdle gets the meeting under way, followed by the first of the day's two chases, this one a novices' 2 miler.

The Staple Fitzpaine Novices' Hurdle over 3 miles also looks a good prospect, with The PAS Sound and Communications Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race, named for the company which provides broadcast facilities for most of the Westcountry's racecourses, as the meeting's finale.

The Big Screen has now become a central feature of all Taunton meeting, as has the FREE bus service due to pick up from the town railway and bus stataions one hour before the start of racing, returning half an hour after the last.

With a chance to follow some of the biggest names in National Hunt racing, Taunton offers another day of "premier division" sport on Tuesday, February 3 (1.50).

l The official opening of the new Paddock Stand by champion jump jockey Tony McCoy heralded another super day of National Hunt racing at Taunton last week.

The impressive building will now forever bear the name of the man who, just days before, had notched up his 2000th winner, testament to his supreme skill and durability.