Turf times for football legends
IT looked like Charlotte Hawkins was backing the Reds yesterday – as she turned up at Cheltenham on the day the races were over-run with football stars.
The Good Morning presenter, 47, teamed her scarlet dress and fascinator with a tartan coat – which must have scored a hit with Scottish footie legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, 72.
The ex-Tartan army player and Liverpool boss was at the festival with fellow football manager Harry Redknapp, 76. But it turned out to be a tough day on the turf for racing-mad former West Ham boss Harry.
He was hoping for a winner in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase but his horse, Shakem Up’arry, was pipped to the post and came in third.
Celebrations
Other footie stars included 6ft 6in former striker Peter Crouch, 42, who towered over ex-midfielder Steven Sidwell as they cheered on the winners with pals.
Crouchie was also seen supping a pint of Guinness as Cheltenham started its St Patrick’s Day celebrations a day early. It is thought 500,000 pints of the dark stuff will be downed today as the festival culminates with the Gold Cup
But other fans stuck to mini bottles of bubbly, complete with gold sippers, as they enjoyed the Sport of Kings.
Royal watchers were thrilled to spot Princess Anne, whose home, Gatcombe Park, is close to the course.
Meanwhile her daughter and son-inlaw, Zara and Mike Tindall, put in their third appearance at the festival.
The couple went for a country look as they posed for photos with other race-goers. Zara, 41, teamed a teal houndstooth suit with a burgundy hat and Mike, 44, wore a smart tweed jacket and a Peaky Blinders-style flat cap.