Rod Stewart checked out runners and riders at the Cheltenham Festival today as the racing event roared back into action.
The dapper rocker, 77, was one of 68,567 fans stampeding to the Gloucestershire racecourse eager for equine action after the festival was held behind closed doors last year.
Other celebrity enthusiasts included Mike and Zara Tindall.
Some Aston Villa players took time out for a flutter too.
And Rod's wife Penny Lancaster larked around with jockey Frankie Dettori, hoisting him into the air as she celebrated her 51st birthday.
After picking a winner in Honeysuckle, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, Penny said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for Honeysuckle.
“My mum is with me and we were all just praying for her. What an incredible story. Woman power all round. It’s just phenomenal. It’s so good for the sport.”
Ahead of the festival’s famed Gold Cup race on Friday, fans downed a record 80,000 pints of Guinness.
They were also rubbing shoulders with stars including Ronan Keating and Prue Leith.
Ex-Boyzone singer Ronan said: “Cheltenham’s just the best week of racing. The energy, the buzz. It’s the buzz really, everyone getting back together again, it’s really special.”
Bookies were braced to take a flurry of bets on Tiger Roll, the double Grand National winner set to run in his last race today.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “He has cost us an absolute fortune over the years, but we, along with the rest of the nation, hope to see a fairytale ending to his illustrious career.”
