Stylish dresses and sunglasses have been the order of the day as the Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse has been hosting Ladies Day.

Thousands of racegoers have enjoyed excellent weather at the Roodee on Thursday, May 9, as they watch a packed afternoon programme of racing.

Feature race on the day is the 3.40pm Tote.co.uk Supporting Racing Ormonde Stakes.

Jeweller Boodles, which opened its Chester store in 1965, sponsors 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, to be held on Friday, May 10.

See a selection of fantastic photos from Ladies Day in our gallery above, photos by Simon Warburton.