Stakes are high at Cheltenham... in the fashion along with the betting!
AND they’re off! But the Cheltenham Festival’s racehorses will do well to keep pace with the fashion forward ladies.
There was plenty of style on show on day one of the racing jamboree and leading the woman at the fourday extravaganza opener was the very chic Chanelle McCoy.
The wife of champion j ockey AP McCoy wowed in a spectacular militaryinspired outfit, teaming a black and gold Versace coat with a hat by Galway-based milliner Mark T Burke.
The mother of two accessorised with shoes by Kurt Geiger and a co-ordinated shirt and skirt combination from her own clothing store, Mojo & McCoy. In addition to enjoying the champagne with her husband, recently retired AP,
Redknapp caught the eye of the ladies
the Chanelle, 39, is promoting her booming boutique.
Other stylish ladies turning heads in the stands were the beauties from the UCD Racing Club, swapping their riding boots and jodhpurs for high heels and fedoras. And Kirsty Farrell from Newry, Co. Antrim – a best dressed winner at Punchestown last April – looked stunning in her pristine white dress and hat.
For the men, former English footballer Jamie Redknapp dressed smartly in a navy and blue suit with a green cardigan, and caught the eye of a number of female fans.
Owner and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary may not have garnered as much attention as Redknapp, but he did enjoy the afternoon in the parade ring.
Irish jockey Ruby Walsh was the victorious rider of the day, savouring one of his best days on the course. Cheered on by his wife Gillian, who wore a fuchsia pink coat by Irish designer Niamh O’Neill, Walsh claimed three winners including the feature race, the Stan James Champion Hurdle, aboard Annie Power, trained by Willie Mullins.
Mullins, who has 60 runners in total this week and is aiming to top last year’s record eight winners, bagged himself a treble thanks to Annie Power, Douvan and Vroum Vroum Mag, but failed to nab the opener. His horse Min was pipped to the post by Altior in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Bookmakers Paddy Power refunded close to €1million as free bets on those who backed the contender.
Today’s Ladies Day will take over the Gloucester Hills and Cheltenham will be awash with fur, feathers and fascinators, as thousands compete in the Best Dressed competition.
Model and presenter Vogue Williams has been enlisted as Team Captain for Ireland when it comes to judging the outfits and will be kitted out in a coat from Paul Costelloe’s Dunnes Stores collection and a tweed suit by Catriona Hanly.
Sky Sports anchor and horsing enthusiast Rachel Wyse is another Irish face expected to attend the proceedings.