It may have been bitterly cold but Taunton’s pre-Christmas meeting turned out to be a huge hit attracting 25% more than the corresponding meeting last season.

The sun shone, the Kings College musicians and choristers sang Christmas Carols giving punters plenty to cheer about, including a double for local trainer David Pipe.

The Nicholashayne handler broke his duck at the Orchard Portman course this season when Home Run, owned by his father Martin, which started the 5-2 favourite under 10 pound claimer Kieron Edgar, ran out the winner by six lengths.

Pipe notched up his second winner when favourite Doctor Harper (2-1) won the Follow Taunton Racecourse on Facebook Newcomers Open National Hunt Flat race.

There was better to follow for the Pipe yard on Friday when stable jockey Tom Scudamore steered Master Overseer (11-1) owned by locally based Brocade Racing to a narrow victory at Cheltenham in very testing conditions.

Taunton race again on Sunday 30th December when the first of the seven race card worth a massive £55,000 gets underway at 12.40pm .

The big race of the day is the Totepool.Com Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a Class 1 event which has a prize fund of £20k on offer.

Tickets can be booked at discounted prices up to 48 hours beforehand by logging onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk or for all information call 01823-337172.