Zara Phillips sported a winning look as she cheered her jockey boyfriend Richard Johnson past the finishing post at Cheltenham in the race named after her great-grandmother, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Prior to the race reporters could not resist asking Richard whether there was any truth to the rumours that the couple were planning a trip down the aisle. “Is it true that some woman’s unbelievably asked to marry you,” asked one, to which the jockey laughed but remained silent.
He did not, however, rule out a wedding completely. “I’ll lay you a big price it won’t for the next 12 months,” Richard then said.
Twenty-year-old Zara watched Richard dash to victory on 7-4 favourite Flagship Uberalles, and was all smiles as Johnson received his trophy. But the win came with a bitter pill, as the National Hunt jockey was subsequently suspended for four days for excessive use of the whip.
Zara looked particularly striking in a brown felt hat trimmed with feathers and a long patchwork coat by Mulberry. Her headgear was made by up-and-coming milliner Tara O'Callaghan - a protege of Philip Treacy - whose designs caught Zara's eye during a high society fashion show.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
