IT was changeable weather at Chester Racecourse on Saturday as punters took shelter from heavy showers but also soaked up the sun in the Matthew Clark Summer Festival.
Fresh from Friday evening's Mappin & Webb Ladies Evening – where racing is held from 5.40pm to 8.35pm – the Roodee was once again filled with thousands of spectators for the seven-race event.
Chester Racecourse, Matthew Clark Summer Festival. Picture The Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap Stakes (Class 2), winner Evocative Spark, jockey Pat Cosgrave from No 4 Hebridges. All pictures: Simon Warburton.
And it was double delight for jockeys Harrison Shaw and Pat Cosgrave, as they each picked up two wins on the day.
Shaw rode Changeofmind to victory in the 1.55pm Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé EBF Maiden Stakes and took the spoils with King of Tonga in the 4.45pm Budweiser King of Beers Handicap Stakes.
Chester Racecourse, Matthew Clark Summer Festival. Picture Lee Strachan, George Thom, Craig Edwards and Chris Dunkerley. SW2562022.
Cosgrave rode Navello the the winning post first in the 3.10pm Grey Goose Essences Handicap Stakes and followed it up with victory in the following event, as Evocative Spark crossed the line ahead of the rest in the 3.40pm Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap Stakes.
Despite the wild weather and the difficulty getting to Chester Racecourse on Saturday, with the rail strike meaning no trains called at Chester Railway Station, there were still plenty of spectators to watch the racing action.
Chester Racecourse, Matthew Clark Summer Festival. Picture centre Mike Greave with friends enjoying the day. SW2562022.
Photographer Simon Warburton was there to capture the best from Saturday's racing.
Chester Racecourse, Matthew Clark Summer Festival. Picture Mr Big - Rick Cook. SW2562022.
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