Dressed down Zara Tindall arrives at day one of The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse

Zara Tindall cut a casual figure as she arrived at day one of The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse today.

The Queen’s granddaughter, 38, layered up in a long-sleeved black roll neck which she wore underneath a black and grey check poncho-style coat.

Keeping her arms crossed to retain the heat in the chilly weather conditions, the mother-of-two, who was pictured without her husband Mike Tindall, 40, and their daughters Mia, five, and Lena, one, completed her outfit with a pair of black jeans and a patent handbag. 

Zara arrived to watch her mother, Princess Anne’s horse Chequred View ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan, come 2nd. 

Zara Tindall, 38, wrapped up warm as she arrived at day one of The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse

The mother-of-two layered up in a black roll neck which she wore underneath a black and grey check poncho

The mother-of-two layered up in a black roll neck which she wore underneath a black and grey check poncho

Today welcomes the finale of the Crystal Cup, with the race concluding a series of unique cross country races across Europe which encapsulates and celebrates the rich heritage of the sport.

Across the weekend, the racecourse will welcome runners from France, Ireland, Britain, and Australia. 

In total, there will be 14 races, including The Handicap Steeple Chase and Cross Country Chase on and The Gold Cup and The International Hurdle on Saturday.

In November, it was revealed Zara has added Racecourse Director at Cheltenham to her CV – while she also has eventing and brand collaborations with companies such as Land Rover and iCandy.

The mother-of-two described it as an ‘honour’ to become a director at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Zara is a regular visitor to the home of National Hunt Racing and has owned, bred and pre-trained in the past – and currently has horses at Martin Keighley’s yard.

Last September she was unveiled as an ambassador for iCandy prams’ £1,500 ‘all-terrain’ buggy. 

Zara could be seen carrying a black patent back on her right arm and kept her jewellery to a minimum

Zara could be seen carrying a black patent back on her right arm and kept her jewellery to a minimum 

Zara Tindall attends the International meeting at Cheltenham to watch her mother, Princess Anne's horse Chequred View ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan come 2nd

Zara Tindall attends the International meeting at Cheltenham to watch her mother, Princess Anne’s horse Chequred View ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan come 2nd

Across the weekend, the racecourse will welcome runners from France, Ireland, Britain, and Australia. Pictured, Zara at Cheltenham Racecourse

Across the weekend, the racecourse will welcome runners from France, Ireland, Britain, and Australia. Pictured, Zara at Cheltenham Racecourse

And her entrepreneurship doesn’t stop there as she is also a brand ambassador for Rolex, Land Rover and Musto, and has her own jewellery range with Australian brand Cajella.

The equestrian, who won the gold medal at the Eventing World Championships in Aachen in 2006 – which led to the British public voting her BBC Sports Personality of the Year – was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to equestrianism. 

‘I’m passionate about horseracing, particularly on the jumps side, and the absolute pinnacle of that is Cheltenham,’ she said. ‘Racing is simply the most exciting sport, and it’s open to all.

‘It’s an honour to have been asked by Martin St Quinton on behalf of The Jockey Club to get involved in a more formal capacity, and I look forward to doing my bit to support the executive team in the years to come.’

St Quinton, the new chairman at Cheltenham, said: ‘Zara is a wonderful advocate for our sport, and I’m delighted that she has agreed to join us at Cheltenham Racecourse.

‘I’m sure we will benefit significantly from her breadth of experience and a perspective that will prove invaluable to the racecourse.’

Zara becomes the first member of the Royal Family to sit on a Jockey Club Racecourse committee. There are, however, several other existing links.

The Queen is Patron of The Jockey Club; the Princess Royal is the Patron of their charity, Racing Welfare, and the Duchess of Cornwall is the Patron of The National Stud.

Zara Tindall and ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin during day one of The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham

Zara Tindall and ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin during day one of The International Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham

While the Princess Royal couldn't be at Cheltenham on, her daughter, Zara, who will join the Cheltenham racecourse committee on January 1, was in attendance

While the Princess Royal couldn’t be at Cheltenham on, her daughter, Zara, who will join the Cheltenham racecourse committee on January 1, was in attendance

Zara (pictured) will become the first member of the Royal Family to sit on a Jockey Club Racecourse committee

Zara (pictured) will become the first member of the Royal Family to sit on a Jockey Club Racecourse committee