Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh chalked up a treble when Taunton hosted the Go Commando Charity Race Day yesterday.

The 400 plus Royal Marines from nearby Norton Manor Camp who attended the meeting as guests of Taunton certainly had some thrilling action to enjoy.

That's Some Milan went to post as 15-8 favourite in the first, a Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over three miles and half a furlong, but never really go going.

Instead it was Quayside Court who made the early running, with Gentleman Jimmy, under Ryan Mahon, prominent going past the post first time round.

Acosta, trained by Jeremy Naylor, joined the tightly-bunched leading group with a circuit to go.

At the top corner Sendinpost led but coming down the home straight Hobb's Dream, a 25-1 shot trained by Neil Mulholland at Tiverton, came to the front and ran away towards the line to end eight lengths ahead of Gentleman Jimmy, who went off at 9-1.

The Nicholls/Walsh combination chalked up their first success of the afternoon through Dildar, who went off 8-15 favourite in the Commando Royal Marines Novices' Hurdle over two miles one furlong.

However, they had it far from their own way with AP McCoy on Alwaary (5-1), in his first return to Taunton since he suffered a serious fall at the course at the end of December, and Sew On Target (7-1) for Colin Tizzard with son Joe aboard making most of the running.

However, Walsh rode an almost perfect race to steal it on the line by one and a quarter lengths from Sew On Target.

There was only ever going to be one winner in the Commando Royal Marines Novices' Chase, right from the off as Sanctuaire (13-8 favourite) for the Nicholls/Walsh team took an early lead and held on to it throughout to cross the line 16 lengths ahead of second-placed Easter Meteor (15-8 second favourite) from the Emma Lavelle stable.

The Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle over two miles one furlong was a keenly-contested affair with the Ron Hodges-trained Cantabilly and Pascha Bere (14-1), under Liam Treadwell for Nick Gifford, fighting it out at the front for much of the race.

However, Walsh made it a hat-trick when he produced 5-4 favourite Ted Spread at just the right time and was threatening three from home before easing to the front to run out winner by seven lengths from the Gifford trained horse.

The Venetia Williams-trained Val Mondo went off 9-4 favourite in the Commando Royal Marines Handicap Hurdle over two miles three furlongs, and led a tightly-bunched field.

However, Magic Prospect (9-1), from the Charlie Mann yard and ridden by Gavin Sheehan, came to prominence coming into the home straight and ran out the winner by four lengths from Val Mondo.

The most valuable event on the card, the Go Commando Handicap Chase over two miles and half a furlong with a prize fund of £15,000, was won by favourite Renard (3-1), ridden by Aidan Coleman for the Venetia Williams team, who kept well in touch throughout and started to challenge four out before taking the lead at the last to win from Lord Singer (11-1) under Joshua Moore for his father Gary.

The final race, a Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race over two miles one furlong was won by 66-1 outsider The Wee Lass with Nick Schofield on board. Chilworth Screamer (28-1), ridden by Tom O'Brien for Chris Gordon, was second.

Taunton race again on February 9 when they are offering two Portman Stand tickets for the price of one if bought in advance through www.taunton racecourse.co.uk