The country might be in lockdown, but that didn’t stop Cheltenham revellers celebrating Gold Cup day in style.
Fans of the horse racing event from across the country dusted off their formal frocks and tweed jackets as they raised a glass to the final day of the festival.
Pregnant Zara Tindall once again joined in with the celebrations, today sporting a vibrant red felt cocktail hat by London based milliner Juliette Botterill while recycling the £495 black Bea Boucle coat by Guinea London that she wore yesterday.
The 39-year-old, who is usually a regular face at the event with her husband Mike Tindall, looked glowing as she posed for a headshot – denying eager royal watchers a glimpse of her blossoming baby bump.
Pregnant Zara Tindall once again joined in with the celebrations, today sporting a vibrant red felt cocktail hat by London based milliner Juliette Botterill while recycling the £495 black Bea Boucle coat by Guinea London that she wore yesterday
It is believed Princess Anne’s daughter, who lives on her Gatcombe Park estate with Mike and their two children Mia, seven, and Lena, two, is around seven months pregnant.
Zara was just one of this year’s racing fans pulling out all the stops to mark the event in their usual jubilant manner, swapping the Gloucestershire racecourse for kitchens, living rooms and front gardens.
Virtual racegoers shared snaps to their social media accounts, showcasing them dressed in all their finery and getting into the Friday spirit.
One glamorous reveller from the Irish countryside posed beside three cute donkeys in a figure-hugging tan dress with fur cuffs and maroon fedora hat, while another donned a tweed jacket and knee-high suede boots as she posed with a glass of rose in her living room.
The 39-year-old, who is usually a regular face at the event with her husband Mike Tindall, looked glowing as she posed for a headshot – denying eager royal watchers a glimpse of her blossoming baby bump
Glamorous reveller Danielle Gingell, from the Irish countryside, posed beside three cute donkeys in a figure-hugging tan dress with fur cuffs and maroon fedora hat
Emma, from the Cotswolds, embraced country-chic in a tweed jacket and knee-high suede boots as she posed with a glass of rose from her living room
One chap donned his very best jockey outfit to show his support (left), while another donned a check three-piece suit – having stocked up on Guinness (right)
Caoimhe Kelly celebrated the occasion with her family – with her father going all out to recreate the experience including a betting wall
An adorable cavapoochon pup looked festival-ready in a feathered hat, while horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani shared a snap from a very empty-looking Cheltenham race course.
Last year’s Cheltenham Festival was the last major UK sporting event to be staged before the UK went into lockdown, and attracted controversy over claims it acted as a super-spreader of the virus.
The following month a former government chief scientific adviser claimed the four-day event, attended by 150,000 people, could have helped to ‘accelerate the spread’ of Covid-19.
However Cheltenham Racecourse’s medical director said it was not possible to know how – and where – people had contracted the virus.
Horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani shared a snap from a very empty-looking Cheltenham race course
Children’s author Emma Everitt-Story dug out a feathered colourful fascinator and posed for a selfie on Gold Cup Day
Adorable Ernie the cavapoochon looked festival-ready in his owner’s peacock feathered fedora hat
This couple got all dressed up to celebrate Cheltenham Gold Cup day with beers in their living room
Lou made sure her home mini-bar was stocked as she enjoyed the races from her living room (left) while Sophie Hillman donned a glamorous floral frock with a blue velvet headband
This couple embraced country-chic to mark the final day of the festival – and took a selfie to celebrate their win on the first race
Ensuring her stylish outfit didn’t go to waste, blogger Charlotte Woodwards dressed to impress in a tweed jacket and boots (left), while a gentleman posed in his suit and trendy shoes as he tucked into the Moet (right)
Emma Wadge toasted the final day with a glass of fizz while donning a smart fedora – while her partner looked like he couldn’t quite contain his excitement
Motorsports reporter Michelle Louise raised a pint of Guinness to toast jockey Rachael Blackmore ahead of the Gold Cup race. Rachael made history during the opening day as she became the first woman to win the Champion Hurdle
For those who are allowed inside the racecourse today, the town is out of bounds. Meanwhile the grounds have separate areas for British and Irish jockeys, trainers and horses, with mingling forbidden and alcohol banned.
Earlier this week, Jockey Rachael Blackmore made history at Cheltenham during the opening day as she became the first woman to win the Champion Hurdle.
The daughter of a dairy farmer and a teacher, the jockey, 31, from Killenuale in County Tipperary, was not reared in a racing family but has been competing professionally in horse racing since 2015.
Rachael, who has been described as a ‘reluctant heroine’, couldn’t hide her delight as she became the first female jockey to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle as she guided Honeysuckle to a brilliant victory at Cheltenham.
She produced the heavily-backed 11-10 favourite to lead between the final two flights and she bounded up the hill to go on and win in impressive fashion, bagging the £180,000 prize.