WITH Cheltenham now over for another year the focus of local racegoers switches back to Taunton, where a six race meeting on Monday afternoon goes to post at 2.20pm, writes Richard Walsh.

All of the leading trainers - including Paul Nicholls, Alan King, Phillip Hobbs, Colin Gizzard, Jonjo O’Neill, and Nigel Twiston-Davies - have got horses running, while top jockeys Richard Johnson, Wayne Hutchinson, Noel Fehily, Aidan Coleman and Sam Twiston-Davies are all booked to ride.

The big race of the day is the Bathwick Tyres Handicap Chase at 3.20pm.

Top weight A Little Magic, trained by Jonjo O’Neil and ridden by Aidan Coleman, is likely to be strongly fancied, while those looking for better value might want to check out the Paul Nicholls horse Lou Vert, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies.

Another local favourite Helium, trained by West Buckland based Alex Dunn, is another horse worth a look.

In the other Class 3 race on the card, the Harry Fry-trained Hint of Mint ridden by Noel Fehily will be looking for his third consecutive win at Taunton, while in the same race bottom weight Amour De Nuit for the Nicholls/ Twiston-Davies partnership is also to be fancied.

Racegoers are reminded that a courtesy coach service departs from Taunton Railway Station two hours before the first and returns from the course 30 minutes after the last has started.

For further information please log onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk