TAUNTON Racecourse hold their second meeting of the season on Thursday and have 69 runners spread across a 7 race card commencing at 12:17.

For those of you looking to use our courtesy coach service, it will depart from outside platform 5 of Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the first race time and return from the course 30 minutes after the start of the last. 

It’s sure to be an excellent afternoon’s entertainment and you can purchase tickets on our website www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk or pay on the gate on the day.

Taunton begin proceedings with the Nightingales Storage Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.  Abbeyhill won last time out at Plumpton, beating the subsequent winner Dear Ralphy and he’s going to be hard to beat under a penalty.

Up next is the Taunton Racecourse Business Club Novice Hurdle.  14 are declared to run with the Paul Nicholls trained, last time course and distance winner, Matterhorn holding all the aces.

It’s then time for the Summerfield Developments Novices’ Handicap Chase. The improving Langley Hundred will surely be competitive on only his second Chase run, however he may not have it all his own way with the Evan Williams trained Walkinthewoods in the race.  He was beaten by only a neck at Ffos Las last time and finished well clear of the rest of the field..could it be a winner for Wales ?

The fourth race of the afternoon is the Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle, our feature, and the 6 runners include 3 course winners with Nicholls, Pipe, Henderson and King all represented in what is sure to be a cracker. Bashful Boy was only beaten by3½ lengths when fourth in the Cesarewitch in October at 100/1 for team Pipe and with Gearoid Harney claiming 7lbs he could run well at decent odds.

We then move on to the Mike Trickey And Geoff White Memorial Handicap Chase. Famoso won last time at Ludlow and is still well weighted compared to his hurdles ability, so could hold the key here with Abingworth the danger.

Next up Division 1 of the Festive Feature 14th December Handicap Hurdle and Sailed Away deserves a second look here with Gyllen capable of running into a place at decent odds.

Division 2 of the race is our last and scheduled for 15:45.  Karakoram returns to Taunton for the 14th time in his career.  He has won twice and been in the first 4 on six other occasions, winning here last March.  The distance is shorter this time but the ground, jockey and weight are all the same so ignore him at your peril, he’ll be a decent price.

Martin's ‘Horse to Follow’ this week is Itseemslikeit (pictured), trained in Wellington by David Pipe and owned by John White & Anne Underhill. I saw him win at Ffos Las last week and, for a four year old, he is huge and stayed on nicely despite showing some inexperience. He will only improve for the outing and looks one for the notebook.