We were delighted to stage racing on Tuesday following the disappointment of losing our popular January Saturday meeting to frost. The crowd enjoyed seven races and some excellent racing. 

The Doyen Chief took the first division of the Racing TV Club Day Novices’ Hurdle under Tom Cannon for trainer Alan King. This was the horse’s second win over hurdles and he seemed to enjoy the better ground.  He could well progress further in the Spring.

The second division was taken by Fire Flyer with Harry Cobden on board for trainer Paul Nicholls. He had only won five days previously at Wincanton and is still learning the job.  He will also have higher targets as the season develops. 

The winner of the Gold Cup Lunch 15th March Handicap Hurdle, Rewired, has won twice on the flat and of his 14 hurdle runs, he has won 5 of them, finishing runner up 5 times and placed on another two. He is consistent and progressive and has surely not finished winning yet in this sphere.

It was time for the Broadway & Horton Cricket Club Chase and a dominant display from Merry Monty (pictured). Brian Carver excelled on the Chris Down trained seven-year-old who jumped well on only his second chase start. There is plenty to like about him and I am not sure he has not stopped winning yet. Even more appealing is the trainer/jockey pairing this season, they have combined 18 times and been successful on 8 of those occasions with a healthy level stake profit.

If you couldn’t make it on Tuesday then put the 20th February in your diary and come down to see us, the details including early bird discounted tickets for only £15 per head are listed on www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk.

Next up was the Stables Business Park Mares’ Novice Hurdle and I am not sure you will see an easier winner at Taunton all season. Golden Ace (pictured) took the honours under an arm-chair ride from Lorcan Williams. She had scored at Taunton 29 days earlier and was dropped in distance here. She loved the better ground and will now head to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The feature race of the afternoon was the Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Chase and Sure Touch went from last to first under promising young jockey Dylan Johnston, he has ridden 5 winners in the last 8 days from just 8 rides, he’s certainly enjoying a blue period.

We ended proceedings with the Free Racing On Monday 11th March Handicap Hurdle and Mammies Boy won comfortably under jockey James Smith for trainer Jonjo O’Neill and his owner’s What’s The Craic Syndicate at the healthy odds of 12/1 in the gathering gloom.