TAUNTON Racecourse welcomed a bumper crowd of all ages on Tuesday at the half-term raceday.

Children under the age of 18 benefited from free entry, while there was entertainment including ferret racing, a racing goody bag and a ‘ride like a jockey’ experience on a mechanical race horse.

On the track, it was a landmark day for Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls, who claimed his 3000th career winner when 3/1 favourite Capitane came out on top in the 4.15.

There was a thrilling finish between two Somerset-trained horses in the second race as the David Pipe trained 20-1 shot Airton, ridden by Tom Scudamore, beat Scaramanga the 6-4 favourite trained by Paul Nicholls by a neck.

Taunton’s next meeting is on Thursday, February 28.