RACE-GOERS enjoyed the fourth renewal of The Prince’s Countryside Fund Raceday at Ascot, sponsored by Tindle Newspapers – and attended by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Last weekend’s event saw a full day of jumps racing, including the Tindle Newspapers Novices’ Chase, won by Wenyerreadyfreddie.

The 6/4 favourite was ridden by Nico de Boinville and trained by Nicky Henderson, who was presented the trophy by Herald general manager Eddie Pearce.

Tindle Newspapers’ vice-chairman Wendy Craig and finance director Alastair Manson were later honoured to be presented to Prince Charles prior to his unveiling of a bronze horse statue, sculpted by Nic Fiddian-Green and presented as a 70th birthday present to him from Ascot racecourse.

Scott Wood, group operations managing director, also represented Tindle Newspapers at the event.

The newspaper publisher entertained special guests Peter Stevens and Daniel Jenking (partners of TWM Solicitors), John Cox and Julie Cox (Total Profiles), Ian Lipscombe (Farnham Castle manager) and Paul Dawson (vice-president, Farnham Weyside Rotary) in the Parade Ring restaurant.

Also 40 lucky winners of the Herald’s Ascot competition enjoyed a full day’s racing on Saturday in the King Edward VII enclosure.

Initial estimates suggest that over the past four years of The Prince’s Countryside Fund Raceday, more than £1.3 million will have been raised, making the Ascot event the biggest fundraiser in the charity’s calendar.

The money will go towards the fund’s practical work in securing a brighter future for farms and rural communities across the UK.