Queen visits Cheltenham after early snow on course

Thousands of racegoers dressed in their best outfits for the renamed "Style Wednesday" on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The event saw early snow fall on the course at a visit from the Queen.

Queen Camilla watching the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase

Royal cousins Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall also watched the action on day two.

Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall arrive at the course in Gloucestershire

No disruption from the snow

The horses were exercised during a light covering of snow over parts of Gloucestershire first thing on Wednesday morning.

But by 8:30 GMT it had turned to sleet with race officials happy that the track would be ready for the action from lunchtime.

Horses exercising in the snow earlier on Wednesday morning before day two of Cheltenham Festival

'Style Wednesday'

Racegoers turned up in their thousands again with some colourful outfits and hats.

The second day of the festival used to be called Ladies Day, but was renamed last year "Style Wednesday".

A group of racegoers dressed in purple suits and hats arrive at the course

Style Wednesday brought some incredible outfits and hats to the festival

There was more drama, with Marine Nationale beating the favourite Jonbon in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Sean Flanagan on his horse Marine Nationale after winning the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase

Focus on safety

Amid criticism from animal rights protestors, horse racing officials said they had invested £56m over 25 years to make the sport safer.

At Cheltenham, the colour of the jumps has changed from orange to white so horses noticed the contrast between the track and the hurdles more easily.

The traditional brush jumps have also being replaced with padded ones.

According the charity Animal Aid a total of 76 horses have been killed as a result of racing at the festival since 2000.

Action from the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase