Gemma Collins was in full celebration mode after walking away with a huge £20,000 win during day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.
The former TOWIE star, 45, couldn’t hide her excitement after one of her bets paid off spectacularly — earning her £5,000 from a single £500 wager. Her horse, Meetmebythesea, stormed to victory in the 2pm race at odds of 9/1, sparking a jubilant reaction from the reality star.
In footage obtained from the event, Gemma was seen cheering loudly and punching the air as she realised the scale of her winnings. At one point she shouted triumphantly: “I’m f***ing loaded! I’m coming home with 20 large ones.”
According to a source at the racecourse, the TV personality spent much of the afternoon celebrating the unexpected windfall. The insider revealed that Gemma was “over the moon” and happily showing off her stacks of cash to actor James Nesbitt while enjoying the atmosphere in the Paddy Power hospitality box. The source added that she made around £20,000 across the day, including the £5,000 win from her £500 bet.
Gemma later shared the moment with fans on Instagram, posting a video of herself fanning a wad of banknotes while the Britney Spears track Work B***h played in the background. Alongside the clip she wrote that she had “the best day ever” and admitted she had been “very lucky”, thanking Paddy Power for bringing her good fortune. She also joked that she had “smashed it out the park” with her horse picks.
The reality star made a dramatic entrance to the races, arriving by helicopter while sipping champagne. She looked every inch the Cheltenham regular in a glamorous checked coat with fur-trimmed sleeves, pink gloves and a large Mulberry Bayswater handbag. A silk scarf wrapped around her styled hair and oversized sunglasses completed the bold race-day look.
Gemma wasn’t the only celebrity embracing the festival spirit. Former Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo also drew attention with a playful horse-shaped handbag as she stepped out in a chic 1920s-inspired outfit. The 31-year-old, who won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, has previously described Cheltenham as the highlight of her year.
The racecourse was packed with famous faces throughout the day. Danny Dyer made an appearance sporting a thick moustache and proudly crossing his arms in support of his beloved West Ham. Football figures were also well represented, with Peter Crouch and legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson both attending the event.
Royal presence was also strong, with Princess Anne attending alongside her daughter Zara Tindall and son-in-law Mike Tindall. Zara looked stylish in a brown velvet blazer while Mike complemented her look as the couple mingled with guests.
Elsewhere, EastEnders and I’m A Celebrity star Shona McGarty turned heads in a striking blue outfit paired with a fascinator, adding even more glamour to the festival atmosphere.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister David Cameron was also spotted enjoying the races with his wife Samantha, the pair watching the action closely from the stands.
Away from the celebrations, talkSPORT confirmed that presenter Alan Brazil missed his breakfast show for the third day of the festival due to illness. Although he had initially been expected to return to hosting duties on Thursday, Shebahn Aherne once again stepped in for him, telling listeners that Brazil needed “a little bit more rest”.
But for Gemma Collins, the day belonged entirely to celebration — and a Cheltenham payday she clearly wasn’t expecting.
