"Cheers to Ladies Day! 5,000 More Women Join the Fun at Cheltenham with Prosecco Now Available on Course"

RACEGOERS downed bottles of bubbly yesterday — celebrating the return of Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time in seven years.

Queen Camilla led the show of girl power as thousands more women flocked to

Prosecco is being sold at Cheltenham for the first timeCredit: Splash A campaign by course bosses led to about 5,000 more women attending this yearCredit: Splash

Her Majesty was joined by and before she met racing trailblazers including Rachael Blackmore.

Rachael, the only female jockey to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National, was appointed the festival’s Head of Ladies Day ambassador to encourage more women to attend the races.

Camilla also met Aamilah Aswat, Britain’s first black female jump jockey.

It is the first to be held at Cheltenham since 2019 after the name was dropped, leading to woke claims.

A campaign by course bosses — including selling prosecco for the first time — led to about 5,000 more women attending this year.

Attendance yesterday was 46,317 — up from 41,941 for the same day last year.

Rachael, 36, said: “Cheltenham has really taken steps to make this a really inclusive festival for everyone and Ladies Day is back with a bang this year for sure.”

Meanwhile, Zara Phillips, a former British equestrian Olympian, walked arm-in-arm with the Princess of Wales’ mum before they posed for photos with actor

Camilla is a regular at the Greatest Show on Turf but she shocked punters as she headed to the parade ring, with protection officers shunting people out the way.

Her son, , also a guest at Prestbury Park, said: “I think Ladies Day is fantastic to get more women involved watching racing. I’ve been coming since I was a child. It’s the most thrilling and unbelievable occasion. I’m so happy to be here.”

The first 300 women into the course got free cocktails to celebrate.

Among them was Molly Jones, 26. The professional dancer and performer paid £50 for a coach from her home in London.

She said: “The fact there is a record number of women here is brilliant for such a male-dominated sport.”

It is the first Ladies Day to be held at Cheltenham since 2019 after the name was dropped, leading to woke claimsCredit: Sportsfile

Elin Harries, 19, an amateur dressage rider from Carmarthen, West Wales, was with her mum Julie, 55.

She said: “This is my second year at Cheltenham, I absolutely love it. I’m going to come every year. It’s great so many women are here on Ladies Day.”

The names of each of the four festival days were changed in 2020 from Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday and Gold Cup Day to just days one, two, three and four.

Following a rebrand as Style Wednesday in 2024, gates fell to a 30-year low.

Ex-sports minister Nadine Dorries, who previously described the changes as a “woke nod”, said: “I’m just so glad they’ve seen sense and the wokeness is gone and they’ve given us our day back.

“I think Cheltenham realised their mistake. It’s a day ladies look forward to.”

Racing enthusiast Kim Stretton-Pow added: “They should never have changed it to something else. We don’t do woke. It’s a good move for the racecourse.”

Meanwhile, two of football’s biggest managerial stars were ­gunning for glory.

But ex- boss and Sun columnist nag Taurus Bay failed to deliver in the first race.

After the 15th place finish, Redknapp retired to his hotel for a cup of tea and to watch on the telly.

British fashion designer Jade Holland-Cooper was in attendanceCredit: Max Mumby

Former boss horse L’Eau Du Sud raced in the blue riband Queen Mother Champion Chase but managed only third behind Il Etait Temps.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins, jockey Paul Townend and the owners were presented with trophies by Queen Camilla.

The Jockey Club, which operates the course, said Ladies Day had returned after feedback from punters.

A spokesman added: “Our marketing teams constantly review the major festival brands in terms of the meetings as a whole and the individual days, and they can change relatively regularly depending on a variety of factors. We took the decision after last year’s Cheltenham Festival to promote the Wednesday of the event as Ladies Day from 2026 again.”

Laughs and gasps from the royal box

QUEEN Camilla had difficulty reigning it in at Cheltenham yesterday — as she gasped, winced and cheered while watching the action unfold.

was caught up in all of the drama from the royal box, where she was joined by , and Cold Feet actor

Queen Camilla was joined by Princess Anne and Carole Middleton at CheltenhamCredit: Paul Edwards Camilla had difficulty reigning in her excitementCredit: James Whatling The Queen wore a camel coat, brown suede skirt and matching boots, teamed with a hat adorned with feathersCredit: James Whatling

Camilla, who is joint patron of the Jockey Club, cut a stylish figure on wearing a camel coat, brown suede skirt and matching boots, teamed with a hat adorned with feathers.

She and her companions saw a thrilling Novices’ Chase won by Kitzbuhel, ridden by Harry Cobden.

mum Carole Middleton was also seen laughing with Camilla and suited-and-booted actor Nesbitt, and at one point even embraced Anne.

Other stars were also in attendance.

returned for a second day on the trot, and appeared in high spirits alongside Carole and Camilla.

Looking effortlessly chic, Carole’s blue hat appeared to have been borrowed from daughter Kate, who was seen in a replica in 2020.

Cheltenham fanatic , , was back for a second day of racing.

Following wearing a , she opted for a brown ensemble, consisting of an eBay coat, Gucci jumper and Maje skirt – finished off by some hairy pointed stilettos by Western Affair.

The Made in Chelsea star joked on Instagram: “I do slightly worry I may have pushed the fashion boundaries a little far this time.”

Meanwhile, TV host looked chic in a Holland Cooper coat and matching hat.

British fashion designer Jade Holland-Cooper – whose label is loved by Princess Kate – cut a stylish figure at the racecourse, with her brand being an official luxury fashion partner of the Jockey Club this year.