It doesn’t seem five minutes since the last Taunton evening meeting in April and yours truly has enjoyed watching City Of Troy taking all before him over the Summer and a couple of recreational trips to Croatia and Crete. 

A couple of weekends ago we had the Jump Season Opener at Chepstow and Ffos Las, with the weather being kind to racing with plenty of rain, there were decent size fields and some competitive action. Highlights were Flying Fortune taking the Persian War and Lump Sum landing the Welsh Champion Hurdle for owner Dai Walters at the track he created.

Those of us who are of a certain age will remember that weekend as the start of the National Hunt season proper with BBC coverage and the likes of Richard Pitman enthusing about the season ahead.  It is great to see that identity returning and long may it continue. Last weekend we witnessed the first Cheltenham meeting of the season, so rest assured the National Hunt season is well under way.

We have a fascinating trainers title ahead - will Willie Mullins retain the title ? Certainly not, if Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton have anything to do with it.  Either of them do not do losing!  Also we have the jockey’s title to enthuse about - champion Harry Cobden fighting off the likes of Sean Bowen and Harry Skelton, fingers crossed they all remain injury free so we can enjoy these three fine horsemen riding at the top of their game.

I mentioned the weather earlier and you may have all been complaining about the rain however they haven’t at Taunton as over 11 inches has fallen on the track since the start of September and this will provide lovely ground for the first meeting on Thursday 14th November.  Currently there are 6 races scheduled to start at 12:30 and we will look closer at these next week.

So get the date in your diary, take a look atwww.tauntonracecourse.co.uk for some early bird entry offers. It’s a great time of year, hopes are high within the ranks and as spectators we are looking forward to seeing some old favourites and new stars ..I’m ready are you ?