It might be one of the most prestigious events on the racing calendar but some of the arrivals at Cheltenham Festival today appeared to have dressed for the club rather than the parade ring. Although rural staples such as tweed, fur and Hunter wellies were present and correct, other race goers opted to take advantage of the bright Gloucestershire sunshine and stepped out in wool mini skirts, worn with knee-length boots. Print also proved a hit, with one brave lady choosing a cheerful ensemble comprised of a leopard print bag combined with a matching coat, boots and tights, while another opted for head-to-toe zebra print. Scroll down for video . Co-ordinating clothes: One woman showed off her love of leopard print, while another opted for a cosy fur coat and a little black dress . Country chic: A lady arrives wearing a neat blue suit (left) while others opt for cosy fur and classic tweed (centre and right) Short and sweet: Racegoers arrive dressed for a country party in a tweed mini (left) and a thigh-scraping leather number (right) Popular choice: Blue has proved particularly popular among racegoers this year, with the colour appearing in a variety of shades . Elegant: One lady opted for a neutral ensemble topped with a pheasant feather hat, while another teamed her yellow skirt suit with purple tights . Others, however, chose to take a more traditional approach to racing get-ups and were well-wrapped up against the biting March breeze as they flocked into the racecourse for the first day of racing action. Warm coats in an array of colourful hues proved particularly popular, with feather-festooned millinery used to ramp up the glamour along with opulent fur cuffs and collars. Blue appears to be an early contender in the racing season style stakes, with scores of ladies opting for the colour in a whole range of shades, from cornflower to cobalt. Whatever the colour, the vast majority appeared cheerful as they arrived to see the action on day one of what is one of the most prestigious events on the British racing calendar. Joining them was the first royal guest of the season, Zara Tindall, who cut a glamorous figure in a dark blue wool coat created especially for the royal by designer Paul Costelloe, a matching hat and oversized sunglasses. Tomorrow will see the 33-year-old joined at the Festival by her aunt, the Duchess of Cornwall, who has long been a racing enthusiast and is due to present a prize to the winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Variety: Racegoers chose a diverse array of outfits, with many staying warm in coats while others opted for summery get-ups (centre) Matching pairs: Some racegoers chose to coordinate their ensembles, with matching outfits made up of tweed (left) or leather seen on course . Chic: Fur was a recurring motif, as was animal print (centre). Some racegoers also opted for the colour of the season, delicate pale pink . Bright spark: A lady arrives dressed in a cheerful coral ensemble teamed with a bright orange handbag and a pair of turquoise trainers . Colourful: A lady dressed in a cosy cream cardigan and a crimson cocktail hat arrives for her day out at the races . Country classics: Gentlemen arriving for the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival opted for classic tweed or chinos . Hats you win! Headwear ranged from classic floppy fedoras to wide brimmed dress hats and delicate cocktail numbers . Well-wrapped up: Vast fur hats teamed with sunglasses is a classic Cheltenham combination, as these ladies demonstrate . Black is back: Many of the ladies arriving at Cheltenham opted for wintry black but livened things up by leaving coats at home . Cheerful: It wasn't only the ladies who opted for bright looks, with one gentleman wearing red cords, while another opted for a pink suit . Despite the large royal contingent, the real highlight, on the track at least, is set to be Friday's Gold Cup, which will see veteran jockey AP McCoy make his final attempt at the classic race aboard Carlingford Lough. McCoy also featured in the first day's racing at Cheltenham and piloted the hotly-tipped Jezki, a dark bay six-year-old gelding, in the Stan James Champion Hurdle this afternoon. Unfortunately for McCoy, the race was taken by hot favourite Faugheen, with the Irish six-year-old battling home to give jockey Ruby Walsh his third winner of the day. Off the course, most of the entertainment came from Gloucestershire's increasingly fashionable style set, who had pulled out all the stops on a very sunny day one. With most eschewing skyscraper heels and flimsy dresses in favour of elegant wool coats and comfortable patent leather boots,  the race meeting is usually a masterclass in country chic, complete with lashings of tweed and even a flat cap or two. Big arrival: Racegoers dressed in their best arrive for a day out at the races on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival . Going for gold in the style stakes: Racegoers are all smiles as they arrive for a sunny day out at the Cheltenham Festival . Top tweed: A racegoer makes the most of the spring sunshine in a chic tweed short suit in summery cornflower blue . Tough choice: While some racegoers opted to dress down in wellies and tweed jackets, others came dressed to the nines . Mix and match: Texture is a key party of Cheltenham style with tapestry, relaxed wool tweed and traditional Prince of Wales check all popular . Unlike Ascot - and from this year, Aintree - organisers at Cheltenham refuse to impose a dress code on guests and, beyond exhortations to wrap up warm and avoid anything that might offend, say anything goes - up to and including fancy dress. While fancy dress does creep in on St Patrick's Thursday, Gloucestershire's most fashionable tend to opt for a glamorous take on rural, with oversized sunglasses, pearl necklaces and twinkling diamond stud earrings deployed to up the fashion ante. Fur is a recurring motif, as are hats that take inspiration from rural life. Like the stylish effort unveiled by Zara Phillips on day one of the 2014 event, many come festooned with pheasant feathers while elegant blooms are a perennial favourite. Male racegoers aren't immune from the pull of country style either, with most opting for tweed suits or chic red chinos teamed with a preppy navy blazer and artfully knotted tie. All white: The sunny weather brought an early season outbreak of white jeans, for both men and women, in its wake . Stylish: Floral print, a perennial favourite on race day, also proved popular among guests arriving at Cheltenham . Family day out: Cheltenham has long been a family favourite, although groups of friends are a common sight on the racecourse . Sunny day: Sunglasses proved an essential accessory as racegoers enjoyed sunny weather on day one of the Cheltenham Festival . Looking good: Zara Tindall cut a glamorous figure in her elegant dark blue ensemble on day one of the Cheltenham Festival . Enjoying the day: Many of the gentlemen arriving at Cheltenham chose bright colours, whether yellow or blue and green tartan (centre) Mixing it up: While some racegoers opted for Royal Ascot style florals, others chose full-scale country looks complete with knee-length boots . Keeping warm: The bright sunshine wasn't incentive enough for some, with many racegoers opting for warm coats instead of short skirts . Rural: Many racegoers chose a classic country look featuring cosy wool or tweed overcoats and leather boots by country brand, Toggi . Dapper: A group of gentlemen arrive dressed in jeans and smart shirts enlivened with tailored tweed jackets . All the trimmings: Fur and suede are perennial favourites when it comes to choosing a hat for Cheltenham . Under starter's orders: Racegoers seated on benches enjoy the sunny weather while they inspect the course . Wondering who to have a flutter on? Ladbrokes' Jessica Bridge reveals which horses are set to be first past the post at this week's Cheltenham Festival. TODAY - CHAMPION HURDLE . HORSE: Faugheen . ODDS: 11/10 . He's called Faugheen the machine for a reason and it's hard to see his unbeaten record coming undone on Tuesday, despite the impressive field. Worth a flutter: Faugheen, pictured here on the gallops yesterday, is a popular choice among punters betting on the Champion Hurdle . Usual jockey, Ruby Walsh, is yet to decide his mount for the race, with stablemate and dual Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly also lining up, but with fingers pointing towards Faugheen it's just another reason to back him. WEDNESDAY - QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE . HORSE: Dodging Bullets . ODDS: 4/1 . All eyes might be on Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy, but Dodging Bullets has easily had the most impressive route to this year's Festival, and although a short price the Clarence House Chase winner could and should serve up an upset to the front two in the betting. THURSDAY: LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE . HORSE: Saphir du Rheu . ODDS: 9/2 . Paul Nicholls' stranglehold at the top of the World Hurdle betting has tightened again following Rock on Ruby's withdrawal. It's going to be very hard to pick which of the stablemates will be sent off as favourite, but with Saphir Du Rheu back over hurdles it can only be a good thing. Veteran: AP McCoy makes his way into the Cheltenham Festival for the very last time as a jockey . He gallops and jumps well, and his Cleeve Hurdle win shows he can do it at Cheltenham . FRIDAY - GOLD CUP . HORSE: Carlingford Lough . ODDS: 10/1 . It's impossible to not back AP McCoy's last ever ride in the Gold Cup - it would be a fairytale end to a glittering career for the 20-time champion jockey. There's still doubts whether favourite Silviniaco Conti can finally make it third time lucky at Cheltenham, but for the old romantics there's only one man that can win this year's Gold Cup, and it's AP McCoy. Good work: Former Barclays banker Rich Richie (second right) celebrates with Ruby Walsh after his horse Faugheen triumphed . Celebrations: Ruby Walsh enjoyed his second victory of the day aboard Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy . Victory: Ruby Walsh celebrates as he steers Douvan to victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - the first race of the day . Mingling: Mike Tindall was one of the more famous names to mingle with the crowds on the first day at Cheltenham . Showing their support: A Ruby Walsh mask gets pride of place next to two pints of Guinness . Bustling: The bright sunshine brought punters flocking to Cheltenham on the first day of racing action . Striking: The scene at Cheltenham Racecourse today, as action on day one of the Cheltenham Festival got underway .
Cheltenham Festival got underway today with Irish gelding Faugheen taking the Champion Hurdle . Racegoers were a colourful sight as they arrived at the Gloucestershire racecourse, with many opting for brights . Some chose to take advantage of the sunshine and opted for thigh-scraping miniskirts in tweed and leather . The four-day race meet runs until Friday, with the Duchess of Cornwall expected at Ladies Day tomorrow . Other winners included Un De Sceaux in the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Duveen in the first race of the day .