IN SPITE of wet and windy conditions, Taunton’s Twixtmas Meeting attracted a crowd of more than 5000, a record for recent years, who were treated to a great afternoon of national hunt action.

The highlight on the course was a treble for Paul Nicholls who claimed the first two and the last race on the card, while his former assistant Harry Derham, who has recently set up his own yard, enjoyed a double.

The Nicholls trained Swift Hawk ridden by Lorcan Williams took the first race going off at 7-2. The same combination won the second with Centara who started at 10-11 on.

Derham then claimed the next two events, Hard Frost a 5-1 shot ridden by Paul O’Brien, beat off a challenge by the Alice Stevens ridden Miltiades (13-2) to win by a neck in the third race.

The Derham trained Queens Gamble who went off the 5-6 favourite then claimed the big race of the day, the Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle- a listed event worth over £14k to the winner.

Moka De Vassy trained near South Molton by Jane Williams and ridden by David Noonan who is also linked with David Pipe took the fifth race at 13-2.

Joe Tizzard, who trains at Milborne Port almost as far east as you can get in Somerset, saddled Pedley Wood, the 16-5 favourite ridden by Brendan Powell to victory in the penultimate race.

Nicholls returned to the winners' enclosure when Individualiste, the 6-4 favourite ridden by Freddie Gingell, won the final event.

Taunton race again next Monday,January 8, when they host their Two for One Meeting with the action starting at 12.55pm.

To take advantage of the 2 for 1 offer book tickets on-line in advance before 12 noon on the day prior to racing by logging onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk