Zara heads Ladies Day stakes for Cheltenham 
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There had been some uncertainty as to whether racing would go ahead after temperatures dropped well below freezing overnight but the course was declared fit at around 7am.

Princess Anne’s daughter attended the event for a second day with her husband, Otley-born former rugby international Mike Tindall, and wearing a bright red coat to keep out the cold.

The Princess Royal was also in attendance, and presented trophies for the winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Missing out yesterday, however, was racing pundit John McCririck who was forced to stay away after falling ill on Tuesday, and his wife said he was “resting” in Cheltenham General Hospital.

The 72-year-old, known for his distinctive sideburns and deerstalker hat, complained of feeling unwell during the first day of the event and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

His wife Jenny had apparently blamed his illness on the stress of a disagreement with his former employer Channel 4 over claims he had been sacked because he was too old.

Yesterday, Gloucestershire Police said they had managed to speak with a man from Yorkshire who had been reported missing after attending the first day of the festival.

Philip Lucas, 70, from Rotherham, had been at with friends, and was last seen at around 5.50pm on Tuesday.

Police said they had received a possible sighting of Mr Lucas at the Kings Arms pub in Prestbury at approximately at 11.15pm that night but there had been “no confirmed information about his whereabouts”.

Officers, who launched an appeal when Mr Lucas failed to return to his hotel in the village of Cranham, confirmed last night he had spoken to officers on the telephone and was safe.