IT WAS a very special day for the Nicholls family when Taunton hosted their first meeting of 2023 on Monday afternoon. Despite the biting cold weather a goodly number of hardy national hunt racegoers turned out to enjoy what turned out to be another entertaining and competitive card.

Paul Nicholls and his stable jockey Harry Cobden won the first four races for his boss, first with Iliko D’Olivate at 6-4, Cap Du Mathan then won the second also at 6-4, Rare Middleton took the third at 2-5 and Afadil then made it a four timer.

Not only was it four winners for the winning combination, but it also took Nicholls past the 100 winners for the current season.

However that wasn’t quite it for the Nicholls connection because in the last race of the afternoon The Geoffrey Bosley Tally Ho Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase - dedicated to the former Master Huntsman of the West Somerset Foxhounds - Paul’s daughter Olive was on board My Way.

The 17 year old, who is quite an accomplished jockey already having won 14 winners out of her 37 rides in Point to Point to date, was also named as the Novice Point to Point Champion last season. To keep it all in the family My Way is owned by Paul’s father Brian Nicholls, who was formerly a Bristol policeman.

Sadly the afternoon didn’t quite have the dream ending for the Nicholls as My Way, who went off at 8-1. ended the nine horse race in sixth place.

However, given the young rider’s connections and the promise she is showing this is likely to be just the start of her career in National Hunt Racing.

Taunton host their Portman Cup Meeting on Saturday, January 21, when the first of the races on the card which boasts a massive prize fund of £122,599 goes to post at 12.47pm.