A Proper Summer's Day at the Levels

My old dad used to say that August racing was the best kind — not because the horses were necessarily at their sharpest, but because everyone around you was relaxed. Shirtsleeves, a cold cider, the smell of cut grass. He'd have loved a day like today at Taunton. Good to firm in places, a full seven-race card, and enough prize money on the table to attract some genuinely useful horses. What more do you want on a Saturday afternoon?

The Taunton racecard had something for everyone — raw two-year-olds finding their feet, seasoned handicappers scrapping it out, and one race that felt a cut above the rest. Let's work through what we saw and, more importantly, who to keep an eye on going forward.

The Feature: William Hill Summer Cup (14:08)

Fifty thousand pounds over seven furlongs and two-eighteen — that's a proper summer handicap, and the William Hill Summer Cup was the undoubted centrepiece of the day. With Fondo Blanco coming out as a non-runner, the field was trimmed to eleven, but there was no shortage of quality among those who did line up.

At the top of the weights, Dain Ma Nut In (Lexie Clarkson, rated 97) and Northern Express (Connor Beasley, rated 97) shared top billing, and both carry course-and-distance form — always worth noting around here. Northern Express in particular is a horse I've had half an eye on all season. Beasley is riding with real confidence right now, and a horse that already knows the Taunton straight is no bad thing in a competitive field like this.

Mirsky (Daniel Tudhope, rated 93) is another who ticks the course-and-distance box, and Tudhope is the sort of jockey who doesn't turn up at a Saturday feature without a plan. Keep him in your notebook. Tuscan Hills (Faye McManoman, rated 93) is one I've been watching since the spring — she's been knocking on the door and a track she's already won on could be the key that finally unlocks it.

Lower in the weights, Priapos (Oisin McSweeney, rated 86) was the one I'd have been watching with interest from a handicapper's perspective. Eleven pounds off the top weight with course-and-distance form? That's the sort of profile that wins summer handicaps.

The Novice Races: Fresh Faces Worth Watching

The two novice stakes — the EBF events at 13:38 and 14:43 — are always where I spend a bit of extra time, because you never quite know what you're going to unearth. Today was no different.

In the opener over five furlongs, Battle Fever (Kevin Stott, rated 76) was the only runner with an official rating, which instantly made him the one to beat on paper. But Stott's mounts have a habit of finding a way, and if Battle Fever came home in front, he'll be worth following into nurseries later in the season. The unrated runners — particularly Red Blue Point with Silvestre De Sousa aboard — are the wildcards. De Sousa doesn't travel to Taunton on a Saturday for the fun of it.

Over in the seven-furlong novice at 14:43, Le Samourai (Edward Greatrex, rated 79) was the one with experience on his side. He's already rated, which tells you he's done something right, and the step up in trip could suit a horse who's always looked like he'd appreciate a bit more time to find his stride. Brighton Beach (Daniel Tudhope) was another I'd have been curious about — Tudhope riding an unraced sort over seven furlongs suggests connections fancy a proper staying juvenile.

Nursery Season Beckons

It's worth remembering that several of these youngsters — particularly those who ran well without winning today — could be absolutely flying once they hit nursery handicaps in September and October. A debut run at Taunton in August is often just the beginning of the story, not the end of it.

The Sprint Handicaps and the Ones to Follow

The Jordan Foy Memorial Handicap at 15:17 over five furlongs was a cracking twelve-runner sprint, and this is where I always enjoy myself. Tight weights, quick ground, and half the field with course-and-distance experience — it's almost impossible to call, which is exactly why it's fun.

Moulin Booj (Kevin Stott, rated 81) has the course-and-distance flag flying, and Stott was having a busy afternoon. Comic Strip (Connor Beasley, rated 78) is another with that vital course form, and at 78 there's still room for the handicapper to be kind. Tiva (Daniel Tudhope, rated 79) caught my eye on the formbook — Tudhope again, and a horse who's been placed more often than she's won recently. That usually means a win is coming.

In the Class 3 at 15:47, Yorkshire (Kevin Stott, rated 92) was the one with the highest rating and, frankly, the most straightforwardly exciting name. Course-and-distance form, a top jockey — he'd be my each-way anchor in a race like that. Croupier (Silvestre De Sousa, rated 89) is a horse who always seems to be placed in decent handicaps without quite winning them. One of these days he'll get his head in front at the right moment.

The Staying Handicap and the Evening Closer

Four runners in the Vision PVC Carlton Miniott Thirsk Handicap at 16:22 over a mile and four furlongs — small field, but these mile-and-a-half contests at Taunton can throw up a lovely result. Ludo's Landing (Silvestre De Sousa, rated 73) has course-and-distance form and De Sousa was riding with purpose all afternoon. Northern Brave (Connor Beasley, rated 75) is the one rated highest and has been in decent form. Watch for both of these in similar staying handicaps through August.

The closer — the John Joseph Robson Memorial at 16:55 — was a Class 6 sprint over six furlongs, and these are always the races that produce the unexpected hero. Northcliff (Silvestre De Sousa, rated 65) had course form and De Sousa was completing a full book of rides. Kings Merchant (Cam Hardie) is one who's been running consistently at this level without quite breaking through — and those are often the horses who reward patience.

The Verdict: A Day Well Spent in Somerset

Taunton doesn't always get the credit it deserves as a flat track. It's a tight, testing circuit that finds out horses who aren't fully committed, and on good to firm ground it can be genuinely quick. Today's card was a well-constructed afternoon's racing — a proper feature race to anchor it, some exciting juvenile novices to speculate about, and enough competitive handicap action to keep the form students busy well into the evening.

My ones to follow from the day:

  • Northern Express — course-and-distance specialist, watch for him in similar seven-furlong handicaps
  • Tuscan Hills — overdue a big one, and she clearly loves this track
  • Le Samourai — the most experienced of the juveniles, should improve for the run
  • Tiva — placed too often to be ignored; a win feels close
  • Ludo's Landing — small field, but the form lines point his way over this trip

If you want to dig deeper into the form, head back to the full Taunton racecard and check the race-by-race sectionals when they come through. And if you're planning your next visit to Taunton, August on the Somerset Levels is about as good as it gets. My dad was right about that, at least.