Carol Vorderman leads the way in a corset and leather pencil skirt at Cheltenham as racegoers glam up

GRAB your hats because the highlight of the horse racing calendar is back.

Cheltenham Festival is kicking off today and glamorous attendees have not disappointed with their eye-catching outfits.

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Carol Vorderman has arrived for the first day of racing at Cheltenham Festival[/caption]

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TV personality Carol looks sensational in a black, leather pencil skirt and corset[/caption]

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Princess Ann’s daughter Zara Tindall is wearing a pretty burgundy fascinator, which matches husband Mike’s tie[/caption]

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Knee-high boots and tweed are all the rage at this year’s festival[/caption]

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This attendee looks stylish in a camel coat and brown suede boots[/caption]

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This glamorous racegoer looks chic in tweed trousers and a matching coat[/caption]

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This feathered fascinator certainly stood out from the crowd[/caption]

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One arrival looked pretty in pink as she arrived in a bold suit[/caption]

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One guest put her best fashion foot forwards in this enviable green, checked suit[/caption]

Carol Vorderman has lead the fashion pack, arriving today in a stylish black, leather pencil skirt and corset.

Meanwhile, royalty is in the house, with Zara and Mike Tindall in attendance for the racing festivities dressed with matching burgundy accessories.

And revellers in stilettos or knee-high boots have donned their fanciest outfits for the popular Gloucester racing event.

Some guests have certainly not held back with their looks, adorning chic hats and lots of tweed.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 will run over the next four days – from Tuesday to Friday – at Prestbury Park Racecourse, also known as Cheltenham Racecourse.

Each day ITV are broadcasting five of the seven races and coverage will kick off on ITV1 at 1pm and finish at 4.30pm each day.

Around 250,000 people are expected to attend over the course of the four-day event.

Wednesday will be Ladies Day, Thursday is St Patrick’s Day and Friday will be Gold Cup Day.

Last year was the first time crowds have been allowed back to the Cheltenham Festival since the 2020 meeting when the coronavirus pandemic kicked in.

We recently shared how horse racing has officially ditched its formal dress code with immediate effect – meaning punters can wear what they want to Cheltenham Festival.

The Jockey Club has said racegoers can wear what they like, within reason, at any of their 15 racecourses.

The only exception to the new rule is the Queen Elizabeth II stand on Epsom Derby Day – and those racecourses not owned by The Jockey Club including the likes of Ascot and its Royal meeting.

‘Offensive’ fancy dress or offensive clothing of any kind and replica sports shirts remain on the banned list.

Bosses said the radical move was a bid to make racing more ‘accessible and inclusive’ – although Nigel Farage said it was a sign there are ‘no standards left in this country’.

Rather than digging out the old tweed, chiefs want punters to ‘dress as you feel most comfortable and confident’.

Explaining the decision, Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive at The Jockey Club, said: “Horseracing has always been a sport enjoyed by people from all different backgrounds and it’s really important to us to be accessible and inclusive.

“We hope that by no longer placing an expectation upon people of what they should and shouldn’t wear we can help highlight that racing really is for everyone.”

SunSport has you covered here for all the runners and riders, with our race-by-race schedule, TV and streaming guide.