The skies above Cheltenham may not yet be showing signs of much sunshine, but that didn’t appear to dampen the spirits of those entering the racecourse on the final day of the Gloucestershire meet.

Alongside classic spectator attire – including neutral macs, knee-high riding boots and wide-brimmed fedoras galore, there were plenty of racegoers determined to get themselves noticed in the style stakes. 

Leading the royals on Friday was Princess Anne; the 73-year-old, who also attended on Thursday, cut an elegant figure in a bright red coat, teamed with black suede boots and a brown fur hat. The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence.

Also in attendance was Mike and Zara Tindall, again back for more racing after also attending the event on Thursday. 

The royal couple, who puckered up for a sweet kiss at one point, exuded rural chic in a coordinated outfit, with Mike opting for a full tweed suit, and Zara in a grey belted coat with over-sized collar and black suede knee-high boots. 

TGI Friday! Racegoers heading to the fourth and final day of Cheltenham were clearly looking forward to a flutter and some champagne

Let the fun begin! By lunchtime the sun had begun to shine on Cheltenham, with racegoers leaving their coats behind

Razzle dazzle ’em – and match the main prize! A pair of spectators decided to coordinate with the Cheltenham Gold Cup that will be handed out later today

Right: This lady looked sharp in a white suit twinned with a black coat and heels, while plenty of racegoers opted for more traditional attire, including shades of caramel

Brights are alright: Lots of those attending added a splash of spring colour to proceedings including this lady in a red dress teamed with strappy black heels

St Patrick’s Day at the races was officially yesterday…but with the Irish celebration coming up on Sunday, there were plenty showing their passion for the Emerald Isle today too

There was a healthy smattering of famous faces spotted on Friday too, including actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster and fiancee Talulah Riley, and Nick Knowles and his partner Katie Dadzie. 

Ex Emmerdale and Strictly star Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz Marsland rocked full country chic with Kelvin donning a flat cap, while Liz sported a feathered fedora. 

Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick was also pictured, arriving with his Bollywood actress fiancee Amy Jackson. The star donned black leather trousers and a brown overcoat, while his girlfriend looked on trend in a co-ordinated checked trousersuit and waistcoat. 

And Sir Alex Ferguson, a lifelong racing fanatic and winner on Thursday, was also back to see the festival out.  

Zara and Mike Tindall were all smiles as they arrived for their second day at Cheltenham. The couple looked a vision of rural chic, with Mike donning a full tweed suit, and Zara opting for a stylish grey coat with over-sized collar

The Princess Royal, 73, pictured arriving at Cheltenham for the second day in a row on Friday, with husband Sir Tim Laurence also in attendance 

And Nick Knowles and girlfriend Katie Dadzie also went for a matchy-matchy look in dark tartan

Ex Emmerdale and Strictly star Kelvin Fletcher with his wife Liz Marsland, left, and Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick, right, arriving at Cheltenham…wearing leather trousers…with his fiancee Bollywood actress Amy Jackson

Actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster and wife-to-be Talulah Riley co-ordinated in shades of brown on day four of the Cheltenham Festival

The Long Shadow star Katherine Kelly wore a chocolate-hued leather man and suede fedora, with her Line Of Duty boyfriend Tony Pitts opting for bright pink corduroy 

Wearing a wax jacket and a broad grin, Nigel Farage tips his hat at Cheltenham on the final day. Right: Gold Cup Day: The festival’s biggest prize will be awarded on Friday afternoon

Elsewhere, it was all about the fashion. The last day of the four-day race meet, which originated in 1860, saw a pair of male spectators in dazzling gold suits, clearing a nod to the famous Gold Cup that will be handed out later today.

There were ladies wearing coats in shades of fuschia pink and the brightest of yellows and even some Texas Hold’em vibes; one lady donned a cowskin jacket and red bandana.

Some erred on the side of caution when it came to cooler temperatures, with plenty of faux fur Russian style hats also amongst the crowds. 

On hand with the entertainment was DJ and singer Craig David, who was belting out tunes as the final day’s action got underway. 

Well, it is chilly…Friday saw grey clouds, with some opting for Russian-style hats to fend off the drizzle

Might be warm later? These ladies look dressed for some inclement weather with snug looking hats

More fur! This chap opted for a full length light grey faux fur coat to brave the Gloucestershire spring 

Elsewhere, there was plenty of classic millinery, with fedoras seemingly at every turn

Yee-ha! One spectator opted for rodeo vibes, with a cowskin coat, red bandana and knee-high suede boots

Don’t rain on our parade: The heavens opened early on in the day as spectators arrived at the course

Coats of many colours: Racegoers didn’t shy away from bold shades on the final day

Tartans and bold patterns have also featured heavily at the 2024 event, now known as much for its fashion as it is for the racing

Jeans are now allowed at the event, with this spectator donning wide-legged denim alongside a houndstooth waistcoat and checked jacket

Houndstooth for two; this chic couple wore complementing attire to attend the final day

A little bolly to start the fun? Revellers pose for a selfie, with mini bottles in hand

R ‘n B star Craig David brought the tunes for spectators at Cheltenham on Friday 

The festival has evolved to include live music in recent years, with Craig David starting the fun early on the final day 

Here we go…suited and booted attendees pour in ahead of the action on Friday morning

Guests at this year’s meet have hiked up their hemlines, chugged beer and Red Bull and ditched Jimmy Choos for thigh high boots and trainers in a move that has lead to comparisons with Aintree, the Merseyside meet famed for it’s rowdy crowds and street style.

Last year, the Jockey Club scrapped its strict dress code at its racecourses in the hopes of encouraging a younger crowd to racing events, with jeans and trainers no longer looked down upon, and ‘come dressed to feel your best’ guidance in place. 

The formal dress codes – which often included a jacket and tie – were dropped in an effort to make horseracing more ‘accessible and inclusive’, the Jockey Club said in an announcement.

Black hats a go-go: This quartet wore matching fedoras for their day at the races 

On Thursday, the royal family put on another uncharacteristically loved-up display as Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi joined Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall at Cheltenham races

Princess Anne also joined the royal day out, looking effortlessly chic in a green coat

The third day of the festival is known as St Patrick’s Thursday and dozens of revellers dressed accordingly, showing off their shamrocks, green frocks and emerald accessories

The only exceptions to the new policy at any of the 342 fixtures staged by The Jockey Club is offensive fancy dress or offensive clothing of any kind and replica sports shirts. 

This means trainers, tracksuits and ripped jeans are now allowed and punters so far have seemed to take advantage of this.

While Cheltenham is owned by the Jockey Club, the course never had a formal dress code. 

However, in previous years men would wear suits and women would wear smart dresses and heels, while jeans and trainers were usually avoided. 

But this year, stilettos have been traded in for chunky boots, and traditional long dresses have been hiked up. Noughties fashion seemed to be in vogue, with people opting for rara skirts and blazers. 

This means trainers, tracksuits and ripped jeans are now allowed and punters so far have seemed to take advantage of this.

While Cheltenham is owned by the Jockey Club, the course never had a formal dress code. 

However, in previous years men would wear suits and women would wear smart dresses and heels, while jeans and trainers were usually avoided. 

But this year, stilettos have been traded in for chunky boots, and traditional long dresses have been hiked up. Noughties fashion seemed to be in vogue, with people opting for rara skirts and blazers. 

For today’s race meeting, The Paddy Power Stayer’s Hurdle is the headline act at 15:30 where Teahupoo is hoping to go a couple of places better than last season when denied by stablemate Sire Du Berlais who also lines up again.

It is the most open of the Festival’s feature races with winners tough to predict.

Three previous Stayers’ Hurdle winners line up — Paisley Park, Flooring Porter, who has twice been successful, and last year’s scorer Sire Du Berlais.

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo finished third last year and returns a more mature and complete athlete at the age of seven, the age of five of the past seven winners.