The event saw early snow fall on the course at a visit from the Queen. Royal cousins Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall also watched the action on day two. The horses were exercised during a light covering of snow over parts of Gloucestershire first thing on Wednesday morning.

There are always surprises on the course at the Cheltenham Festival, but the weather has proved the biggest shock so far as snow settles at Prestbury Park. After some lovely weather over the last couple of weeks in England,

A flurry of snow has fallen on Cheltenham Racecourse ahead of the second day of The Festival. Thousands of racegoers are anticipated to descend on Prestbury Park for Style Wednesday later. Temperatures of around 1C (34F) brought snowfall to Cheltenham and wider Gloucestershire,