Taunton racegoers have got a cracking afternoon of action to look forward to when they host their second meeting of the season when the seven race card gets underway at 12.40pm.

With the improved ground 76 runners have been declared with leading trainers Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton, Emma Lavelle, David Pipe, Jonjo O’Neill and Joe Tizzard all having runners and top jockeys Harry Skelton, Tom Scudamore, Nico de Boinville and Harry Cobden all booked to ride,

The opening race on the card sees the second appearance of the Taunton Racecourse Owners Club horse Royal Sam, trained by Milton Harris who will be trying to improve on his fourth place last time out.

The big race of the day is the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle a Class 3 event over two miles three furlongs which has 12 runners.  Both the Nicholls trained Irish Hill and Itso Fury from the O’Neill yard can eb expected to attract attention but those looking for better value might fancy Nobel Joshua each way from the in-form Pipe stable.

Racegoers are reminded that a courtesy coach departs from outside platform 5 of Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the off and returns 30 minutes after the start of the last.

Taunton host their next meeting on Thursday 8th December. For all further information please log onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk

Somerset County Gazette: Bridgwater College students.Bridgwater College students. (Image: Contributed)

Last week, a group of students from Bridgwater College enjoyed an afternoon at Taunton Racecourse Racing last week as part of the Racing to School initiative.

Among the 1500 racegoers who attended the meeting at Taunton Racecourse last week was a group of students from Bridgwater College as part of the Racing to School initiative, an education charity that aims to inspire young minds through the provision of free, interactive, and healthy outdoor educational events for schools, staged at a variety of racing venues.

The afternoon got off to a great start for the members of the David Pipe Racing Club when their horse Iron Heart won the opener in a thrilling finish, by a head, under Phillip Armson after going out at 10-3.

There was further delight for west country punters when Midnight Midge trained by Philip Hobbs at Bilbrook, near Minehead, and ridden by Ben Jones won the big race of the day, the Invest Southwest Novices’ Handicap Chase by nine lengths at 85-40.