Amazing racegoers put on a show at the Cheltenham Festival, as this four-day event returns to its prepandemic glory.
Beautifully groomed women arrived at the event in thousands wearing eye-catching prints, mini skirts that skim their thighs and sequin dresses.
They were joined by several VIPs, including Peter Phillips (grandson of Queen Elizabeth II) and Zara Tindall (husband of Zara).
This high-spirited, thrilling event is back after last year’s pandemic that forced organizers to keep it behind closed doors.
The famous festival was one of the last major sporting events to be held with spectators before lockdown in March 2020. It was accused of being a Covid super-spreader event, with a number of famous faces including Andrew Parker Bowles, comedian Lee Mack and footballer Charlie Austin all contracting the virus.
In the following four days, up to 250,000 horse-racing enthusiasts will descend upon the Gloucestershire track.
Further excitement will be added by revellers basking in the above-average temperatures of 60F (15C) today.
The girls are here! Cheltenham Festival revellers were greeted with short, sequin-skinned dresses and strong prints.
Royal arrivals! Zara Tindall, the Queen’s grand-daughter, looked stunning in a beautiful berry-coloured coat while leading the Royal Racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival’s first day. As she arrived at Gloucestershire Racecourse, Zara Tindall smiled as Mike was with her
Take in the views! Penny Lancaster, Rod Stewart’s wife, enjoyed the racecourse while she was dressed in muted prints
I’ll take a photo! Penny was radiant while she took a photo with her friends in Cheltenham’s VIP Box
Get your bottoms on! A racegoer in a Gucci jacket enjoys a drink at the Cheltenham Festival, Gloucestershire.
Sparkling with excitement Cheltenham is a lively place where two beautiful women enjoy miniature bottles of Moet while they sit with high-class racegoers.
We’re done! Racegoers enjoy the Cheltenham Festival action at Cheltenham Racecourse on day one
Celebrity arrivals: James Haskell and pregnant Chloe Madeley (left) and Richard Hammond
Combinations of classics: Couples resorted to tried-and-true combinations when they went out to the event.
You can go all the way to your thigh! Cheltenham Racecourse was crowded with friends wearing flirty mini dresses this morning.
It’s spring! Cheltenham Festival: Two Glam Racegoers took advantage of the warmer weather by wearing mini-skirts.
Country chic! On their arrival to the racecourse, racegoers dressed in stylish coats take their picture in front of a flower wall.
Jade Holland Cooper, fashion designer and model was one of the VIPs who arrived early. She wore a flattering mini skirt and statement belt with Gucci logo tights.
A few friends went all out in glamorous outfits with vibrant handbags and strappy heels. Hand-in hand, they strutted into the track ready to enjoy a day at racing.
Men were not to be left behind in pushing the boundaries of fashion with bold and eye-catching prints on their suits. A deep magenta two piece by a gentleman turned heads with its Seventies-inspired Seventies print.
Another group chose to coordinate their purple velvet bowties and purple hats, as well as their violet-striped shirt.
You could also see many classic country combinations. Revellers who are more conservative wore tweed and felt hats while wearing smart, three-piece suits.
After Ruby Walsh, horse racing legend, lifted the veil on Cheltenham week for jockeys. She also explained why Irish domination was bad for the sport and the Festival’s need for a fifth.
Fizzing fun! A racegoer also picked up Moet, which was great for the day.
The girls are here! The four-day event was underway when a group of glamorous girls arrived wearing race day outfits.
Feathered fancy! As they make their way to the meet, the glamorous racegoers are dazzling in statement hats.
We are so proud of you! One glamorous racegoer sip a tiny bottle of champagne while enjoying the Festival sunshine.
Race Day Finery: Before heading to Cheltenham Racecourse, a group of women did their hair and made sure they were properly glammed.
A great view is key! As the race got underway, racegoers enjoyed the excitement.
Chin chin On one table, racegoers enjoyed bottles of Moet and shared their joy at the event.
Tommy Shelby Chic As the day began, dozens of male racegoers donned Peaky Blinders-style caps
All the colours! Cheltenham was a party of style-conscious friends who arrived dressed in amazing frocks.
Grande entrance: Jade Holland Cooper, designer, showed her Gucci tights and pins. Right, time for a quick photo
First, let’s take a selfie. One group of men stops to take photos at Cheltenham Racecourse as they arrive this morning.
Matchy, matchy! Racegoers arriving in purple hats at Cheltenham Racecourse ahead of day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival
Get ready for the day: The first day of Cheltenham Festival begins with a busy morning.
After being closed for the last year, thousands are back at the racecourse every day.
Walsh, Cheltenham’s greatest ever jockey has won 59 races. Now the 42-year old is a TV personality and racing pundit.
Walsh, who is now enjoying his time away from the main focal point of the week’s action, may be quite content with the fact that the jockeys remain the focus. However, Walsh reveals that the horse-riding week can not always be enjoyable.
SportsMail spoke to him ahead of Festival: “I wouldn’t be looking forward the next five day of the lives Paul Townends, Davy Russells, Harry Skelton Harry Cobden and RachaelBlackmore. The constant worry is all you have. The dragging of time between now and next Tuesday – it will feel like five months.
Horsing around! Zara and Mike had a jovial spirit as they went out without their children Mia (8 years old), Lena (3 months) and Lucas (1 year). Mike and Peter, their brother-in law Peter (pictured), were seen posing together for a picture.
You can be dapper: Peter Phillips, the Queen’s grand-daughter, wore Holland Cooper blue and green tartan. Mike in his classic checked blazer
It’s great to wear a hat! Peter Phillips and Mike Tindall wore similar Peaky Blinders inspired hats to Cheltenham.
Zara and Mike, a favourite royal family member: Zara and Mike left their children behind to spend a day with Peter at Cheltenham (pictured).
“I used to be a complete nightmare before the Cheltenham Festival. Team sports are where you’re part of either a camp or a squad. A media officer is a person who assists in the operation of racing. It’s not the trainers or jockeys who have media officers.
“It is difficult to avoid the spotlight. Nobody will go to Dublin airport in search of a chartered flight. They’ll board next to the punter also onboard the flight.
The team will not have a hotel, or an escorted bus to the stadium. Instead they will be required to go along with the fans into the racetrack. At that level, being a jockey can be very different from competing in top other sports. While you can watch Wimbledon or golf, and see the courtesy vehicles flying by the course, I have never seen a courtesy vehicle pull up to me at the races.
Are you ready for the race? Over the course of four days, approximately 250,000 people are expected to attend the Cheltenham Festival
Day out: Cheltenham Festival Racegoers eagerly awaiting the action, after last year’s event which was behind closed doors
There are four main races: Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle; Wednesday’s Champion Chase; Thursday’s Stayers’ Hurdle; Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
For the first time in the history of the Covid pandemic, over 250,000 horse-racing fans will descend upon the Gloucestershire racecourse this weekend.
Fans will enjoy temperatures of 60F (above-average for March) this afternoon, adding to the thrill. Fans will enjoy sunny days on the last two days, even though rain is predicted for Wednesday.
For the first time in the history of the Covid pandemic, over 250,000 horse-racing fans will descend upon the Gloucestershire racecourse this weekend.
Cheltenham Festival Spectators arriving at Cheltenham Racecourse for Day One. It will take place this week in Gloucestershire.
It is very stressful and you are constantly under pressure. It is not your intention to bark or snap, but you must be the one who puts pressure on others.
Walsh acknowledges that it’s a huge feat for an industry so dependent on punters to see their old friends again this week.
He notes that he was among the fortunate people to be at Cheltenham in 2013. It was an unusual experience, unlike anything I’ve ever had. Cheltenham’s National Hunt racing is distinguished by its huge crowds.
‘That volume of people over four days, that cacophony of noise – it is incredible and it will play its part on horses, on trainers and on jockeys. All of it adds up and even the simplest things, like helicopter traffic or helicopters disappearing after the race. This is noise and atmosphere.
CHELTENHAM TIPS
Sam Turner is the Daily Mail’s Editor
Sportsmail provides all the tips ahead of the opening day of Cheltenham Festival with selections from Britain’s No 1 tipster Sam Turner, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore and festival winning jockey Lizzie Kelly.
Honeysuckle does not need to appear today in order for her to become a Unibet Champion Chaser heroine.
Henry de Bromhead’s best-class mare defends an impeccable record that dates back to 14 races. The bookmakers will not take any chances on her failing again.
Honeysuckle was crowned National Hunt Racing’s New Icon after her six-length win over Sharjah. She has continued to defeat all of her rivals since then.
The odds are that Honeysuckle, the Champion Hurdle defending champion, will win.
She will likely face an even tougher challenge this year as an Epatante who is now out of kilter was the second favourite, while Goshen was 11-2.
This year’s renewal seems to be more robust in depth. Last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Winner APPRECIATE It (Cheltenham 3.30) represents the All-Conquering Willie Mullins stable. Adagio (5 years old) is an improving hurdler.
Epatante was a 2020 winner with seemingly resolved back issues. He is also a contender for Tommy’s Oscar. Tommy has such an impressive cruising speed, that you can be sure that Oscar must have at least one frame chance.
Willie Mullins’ 2021 Supreme winner Appreciate It will take on Honeysuckle on Tuesday
Honeysuckle supporters might not seem to be shaking in the face these challenges but they still have more than the opposition last year. If Mullins worked with Appreciate it, his eight-year old is an exciting proposition.
Although Supreme was not a renewal of vintage, the Supreme selection proved to be incredibly powerful at a time similar to Honeysuckle.
Although Mullins has not been tempted to take on Appreciate It, we all know that the Closutton master is able to withstand long absences.
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.30 Dysart Dynamo
2.10 Riviere D’etel
Roque Gericault Roque 2.50
3.30 Appreciate It
4.10 Queens Brook (nap)
4.50 Tide turns
5.30 Run Wild Fred
GIMCRACK
1.30 Jonbon, nap
2.10 Haut En Couleurs
2.50 Tea Clipper
Honeysuckle 3.30
4.10 Stormy Ireland (nb).
4.50 Hms Seahorse
5.30 Vanillier
Northerner – 2.50 Vintage Clouds (nap)
SUPREME NOVEVICES HURDLE
Mullins may start the meeting by introducing the explosive DYSART DYNAMO, (Cheltenham 1.30), in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hürdle.
Although the unbeaten 6-year-old isn’t necessarily the best for the assignment, I think Paul Townend might be able get to the race with a car.
Constitution Hill is a formidable danger. It’s not difficult to see this strong stayer arriving at two miles with a great challenge at the end flight. Dysart Dynamo should be able resist that last assault.
SPORTING LIFE ARKLE CHAASE
Edwardstone represents one of the best British hopes for the week and, given a virtually blemish-free record over fences, is extremely difficult to knock — so I won’t!
RIVIERE D’ETEL (2.10) is a horse that has achieved more than her chasing career. However, she was not able to win the Irish equivalent at the Dublin Racing Festival. Coeur Sublime was third on that day. Some firms offered four spots.
Edwardstone is one of the most promising British hope at Cheltenham.
ULTIMA HANDDICAP CHAASE
The connections to GERICAULT RQUE (Cheltenham 2.50) have been very kind in this race. They won the race twice, with Un Temps Pour Tout (2016) and 2017.
CLOSE BROTHERS MARES HURDLE
QUEENSBROOK (Cheltenham; nap, 4.10) appeared to think that the run would benefit her when she was chasing Burning Victory home at Punchestown last month. It looks like she is a good bet for any reverse placings.
BOODLES & NH CHASE
GORDON ELLIOTT could enjoy a favourable end with THE TIDE TURNS, (Cheltenham) having a strong hand at the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle. While RUN WILD RED (Cheltenham), nb. 5.30) has all the characteristics to win the final.