13 March 2024 , 13:42
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The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is well under way as some of the biggest stars in the industry - and some Royal family members - have braved the bad weather to watch the annual races unfold.
The annual March festival sees the sport’s most prominent owners, trainers, jockeys and horses descend on Gloucestershire for the mother of all flutters.
Following the wet weather on the first day of the races on Tuesday, Cheltenham's cross-country course had to pass an 8am inspection on Wednesday to see if the race could ahead in the afternoon.
Zara looked chic in a trouser suit (PA)
Zara and the Princess beamed as they posed for photos together (REX/Shutterstock)Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said on Tuesday: “We were initially forecast, going back two or three days, to be dry today. Then 48 hours ago that forecast updated to some light showers but only around a millimetre of rainfall. Then yesterday it was updated again to 2-4mm for this morning.
“The forecast which we got last thing yesterday then increased further and gave us some cause for concern and by 6.30 this morning we had actually had 6mm, with a further 4-6mm forecast through the morning.
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Zara oozed elegance in the ensemble (PA)
The Royal posed alongside her husband (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)"A heavier band of rain is due to arrive around 11am but it should be all over by around lunchtime. We might get an odd shower later in the afternoon but that should not be anything too measurable – the worst of this rain should finish this morning.”
However the bad weather didn't seem to bother Royals Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie as they were all smiles as they entered the race course on this afternoon. The Royal family members attended Cheltenham festival's 'Style Wednesday' today - and the pair upped the ante in the style stakes for the special day. They were also joined by their husbands, Mike Tindall and Jack Brooksbank.
Queen Camilla put on a brave face amid the ongoing Royal drama (PA)Zara, 42, oozed elegance in a blue pinstripe suit jacket which she paired with some matching straight-leg trousers. The equestrian paired the elegant navy suit with a burgundy blouse, leather gloves and a matching burgundy handbag as she beamed alongside the Princess who also looked gorgeous for 'Style Wednesday'.
Zara and her husband Mike showed off some PDA as they shared a kiss before heading into the races. Mike looked dapper in a black suit and a burgundy tie to compliment his wife's ensemble. He topped off the look with a grey flatcap.
The Queen oozed elegance in a green ensemble for the races 'Style Wednesday' (PA)
Stephen Mulhern looked dapper in a green velvet suit (PA)Princess Eugenie looked chic in a white wraparound waterfall coat, which she wore over a midi dress. The mum-of-two paired the look with some brown suede boots and topped off the ensemble with a white fedora hat.
Also attending the races today was Dancing On Ice host Stephen Mulhern who looked dapper in a velvet green suit. Queen Camilla was also in attendance as she took a break away from the ongoing Royal drama.
Zara and Mike beamed for the cameras (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)The Royal family have had a tough time recently following Charles' cancer diagnosis and Kate Middleton's 'planned abdominal surgery' and subsequent 'photoshop fail', when she admitted to editing a Mother's Day photo she released to the public on Sunday.
However, Queen Camilla put on a brave face and smiled for the cameras as she attended the annual races.
Cheltenham on Tuesday also saw equestrian Zara, the King’s niece, attend alongside her husband Mike. The pair were seen laughing and joking with friends.
Zara looked typically regal, as she smiled for the cameras, sporting a jauntily angled grey hat, fitted navy coat, long black boots and an elegant leather handbag from Fairfax & Favor. Mike also looked dapper, wearing a felt cap to keep the rain off his head along with a smart overcoat.
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BBC's Emma Jones was also in attendance (Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)
She kept the colours muted for the event (PA)Boxing legend Ricky Hatton, 45, also turned up in a dark suit with a white collar, dressed like the pint of Guinness he was necking. He told reporters: “When I saw the Guinness Village I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. It’s a brilliant village. It’s well documented I like a little Guinness.” There were football stars present on Tuesday too.
Arsenal hero Ray Parlour, 51, and Man City’s Kyle Walker, 33, spotted enjoying the racing. Rachael Blackmore, 34, won the first race on Slade Steel, brightening things up for punters with odds of 7-2. Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Punters have hit the ground running.”
BBC's Emma Jones was also in attendance at the event. She looked stunning in a co-ord skirt and top and kept warm in a beige overcoat. The star completed her look with knee-high brown boots.