THE sun was a welcome guest for the first day of fixtures at Chester Racecourse.
Taking place over three days (May 8-10) Boodles May Festival got off to a great start.
Jeweller Boodles, which opened its Chester store in 1965, sponsor the popular event for an 11th consecutive year.
A long-term partner of the world's oldest operating racecourse, Boodles also continues to be associated with two of three traditional Classic Trials to be run at the festival, in the form of the Boodles Chester Vase and the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes.
Record prize money of more than £1.3m will be on offer across the three days of the Boodles May Festival, which this year celebrates 200 years of the historic Chester Cup.
As ever, those attending the races provided a dose of glamour, with even more style expected tomorrow for Ladies Day.
Can you spot yourself in our gallery of photos, taken on day one of the Boodles May Festival, by photographer Simon Warburton?
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here