EVERYBODY loves their locally trained horses and Taunton punters are no different which was clear to see in the Royal Bath & West Chase on Tuesday afternoon, writes Richard Walsh.

Turning for home in the two miles seven furlongs chase, the Alan King trained Handsome Sam led by 10 lengths from from Tim Vaughan’s Bells of Ailsworth, behind which it was local horses Somerset Lias, trained by Bob Buckler, and Alex Dunn’s Gold Mountain challenging for honours.

As the race unfolded the King horse tired and was overtaken by Vaughan's entry, but as the finishing line got nearer Somerset Lias and Gold Mountain were both closing in on Bells of Ailsworth.

The crowd cheered their local horses on but Bells of Ailsworth (15/2) just hung on to win by one and a half lengths from Somerset Lias (11/1), who in turn had a three quarter of a length advantage over Gold Mountain who went off at 20/1 having been available earlier at 25/1.

The final race at Taunton’s next meeting on March 2 is as yet unknown because the decision will be made today by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) following consultation with trainers.

This is part of the Interactive Race Planning trial that will allow trainers to directly influence the shape of the race programme and has the support of both the racing and the betting industries.