IT'S Ladies Day at Taunton Racecourse on Thursday afternoon where the first of the seven races on the card is due to post at 2pm, writes Richard Walsh

And with 78 runners declared and the going good, good to soft in places another excellent afternoon of National Hunt racing action looks to be in store.

Leading trainers including Olly Murphy, Paul Nicholls, Joe Tizzard, Harry Fry, Kim Bailey, Philip Hobbs/Johnson White and Neil Mulholland all have runners while top jockeys Bryony Frost, Brendon Powell, David Bass, Nick Schofield Micheal Nolan and Jack Tudor are all booked to ride.

This will be the first time that Jack Tudor who was announced as David Pipe’s new stable jockey last week will be riding for his new yard at his local track so it will be very interesting to see how the 20 year fares in his two rides.

The big race on the card is The Dave Criddle Travel Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) over just shy of three miles which is off at 4.20pm and is worth £7288 to the winning connections.

The Robert Walford trained Hititi ridden by Bryan Carver has won on his last two outings so likely to be fancied while thos looking for better odds may want to look at Sayadam ridden by David Bass for Kim Bailey.

 In addition to the racing action there will be a number of trade stands while the River Tones Chorus will be on hand to entertain.

Racegoers are reminded that a courtesy coach service departs from outside Platform 5 of Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the first, returning half an hour after the start of the last.

Taunton bring the curtain down on their 2022-23 season with their Evening Meeting on Thursday April 27.

For further information or to purchase tickets in advance and take advantage of the generous discounts available log onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk