RACEGOERS turned out in force to attend the William Hill Free Race Meeting at Taunton on Monday afternoon.

With the sun shining and good fields in all but one of the races, almost 2,800 people were in attendance - an increase of 400 on the last time the Orchard Portman hosted the same meeting – and continued the trend that punters love their racing locally and turn out in numbers to show it.

Exmoor-based trainer Nicky Martin enjoyed a successful day, and was unlucky to have to settle for second place in the feature race before winning the last.

In The Stayers Handicap Chase over three and a half miles the Withypool handler’s The Two Amigos ridden by David Pritchard, went off strongly at 11-4. He led from the start, but coming down  home straight Kevin Brogan produced Harry Fry’s horse Revels Hill the 7-4 favourite at just the right time and he went onto win by three lengths.

Martin’s disappointment was short lived however when My Last Oscar  (12-1) ridden by Pritchard, a five pound claimer, won the final race a Handicap Hurdle over three miles by one and a half lengths.

Taunton races again on Thursday, April 7, when it host its ever-popular Ladies Day Meeting when the first action on the course is set to get under way at 2pm.

Taunton Racecourse has a special limited offer available on Ladies Day of a glass of bubbly, an entry ticket, private viewing, a racecard and afternoon tea all for just £40. To book a place and be in with a chance of winning a Weekend in Paris for two email [email protected]

To take advantage of the up to 40 per cent discounts available book tickets in advance before noon the day before racing by logging onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk

Taunton brings the curtain down on the 2021-22 season with its Evening Meeting on Thursday, April 21.