Taunton’s first fixture in February was held on Tuesday and we witnessed seven competitive races with plenty of runners. Proceedings started with the Ross Stacey Cannot Cook Novices’ Hurdle with a win for Go West and the Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls combination. The horse is owned by the Owners Group, who were out in force, which guaranteed an enthusiastic return to the Winners Enclosure, writes Martin Higgs.
The Philip Hobbs & Johnson White team continued their excellent season at Taunton with Saint Anapolino winning the two-mile hurdle. That makes it 7 winners from 16 runners so far this season and 5 wins from 10 rides for winning jockey Michael Nolan..dismiss them for the rest of the season at your peril..and don’t say I haven’t mentioned this before, hopefully the regulars were on this one !
This race was followed by a brave front-running display from Jupiter Allen in the Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Chase. The David Noonan ridden, Jane Williams trained horse was wearing cheekpieces for the first time and they worked the oracle. He is only six and could well keep improving.
I have to say I was impressed with Tour Ovalie (pictured) in the Mares’ Hurdle. She was already a four-time winner over hurdles and stepped up again by landing this and even giving her rivals weight. The Evan Williams trained mare is a thoroughly likeable individual who has been ridden in all of her victories by Isabel Williams. They are a potent combination and my feeling is that they haven’t finished winning yet.
It was great to see a contingent from the Par Inn Cornwall, their race was won by Palawan Du Mazet under Philip Armson and those who backed the winner will surely have funded the party after!
Time for Rodney (pictured) took the next under Richard Patrick for trainer Kerry Lee. He was purchased by the trainer for £9,000 in October 2024 and looks a shrewd buy judging on this. The naming of the horse wouldn’t have been lost on those of a certain age group, however this Rodney is certainly not a plonker!
Our final race was the Free Racing on Monday 10th March Hurdle (apply for your tickets now!) and a win for the well-backed Grenadier Jed and the Robert Walford team. Harry Kimber steered the winner home who was on his handicap debut, he will take some stopping next time as well, so put him in your notebook.
An excellent day’s sport and Taunton do it all over again on Tuesday 18th February during the school half term holidays.. early bird ticket discounts are available at www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk
