Bairbre commented, "Gillian's look was exquisite, the silk Donegal tweed was beautiful, a real timeless outfit. The headpiece by Edel Ramberg was beautiful, and she had her piece from Coast in there in the necklace she wore. We all spotted her immediately and approached her, I felt she was the winner as soon as we spoke to her. I'm looking forward to seeing her coming back tomorrow in a new ensemble." 

Jenny said, "I just loved Gillian's look! She stood out for me straight away and I'm glad we all agreed on a winner! Her dress was comfortable as well as stylish, and that's what I like to see."

Niamh confessed that in recent months she has given up smoking and become a fitness fanatic, she is taking part in a duathalon next week in her home town. The Coast dress her husband bought for her at Christmas didn't fit her until recent weeks after all her recent training, so she decided to wear it to the Coast Ladies Day Final this afternoon at Punchestown. 

Niamh commented "I'm so thrilled and genuinely shocked at winning the overall prize today! I come to Punchestown every year, but I've never won anything in the Best Dressed competition before! I love Coast and am so excited about the fantastic prize!"

Niamh met Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the parade ring after being announced as the winner of Punchestown, before enjoying some bubbles in the champagne tent.

Liam Holton, Marketing Director at Punchestown, commented, "We are delighted with today's Coast Best Dressed Lady Rebecca Daly, and glad to hear she was enjoying dining at the Longford GAA Pavillion. She looks fantastic and had a great day at Punchestown by all accounts."

Plenty of familiar faces attended today's races including actor James Nesbitt, former RTE news anchor Anne Doyle, rugby players Fergus McFadden and Sean O'Brien as well as former Ireland football captain Steve Staunton. 

There were plenty of familiar faces in the crowds today; leading the spectators was President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Dublin Wives' star Lisa Murphy and celebrity solicitor Gerald Keane, hurling legend Ger Loughnan, Boxing Legend and Olympic Gold Medallist Michael Carruth, and RTE's Marty Morrissey. Other attendees included Marietta Doran and Tracy Pigott from RTE, jockeys Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Davy Russell, Paul Carberry and Kate Harrington and Katie Walshe who were all riding this afternoon. 

Liam Holton, Marketing Director at Punchestown, commented, "Today was a wonderful start to the week with a very strong attendance for the first day and a wonderful atmosphere to boot. The fashion element of the Festival is key with 49% of our attendance being ladies. It is an ideal event to dress up for".

Tomorrow will see TV3's Xposé presenter Aisling O'Loughlin teaming up with former Xposé colleague Lorraine Keane to judge Coast's Best Dressed Lady. 

On Thursday, Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power will be judging the style stakes along with TV3's Ireland AM presenter Sinéad Desmond and TV personality Jenny Buckley will also be looking out for winning style. Friday's final will be judged by Coast Managing Director Margaret McDonald, Chairman of Aurora Fashions Ireland Ian Galvin and Celebrity Stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick. Joining the judges on Friday will be the highly anticipated celebrity judge X-Factor's Louis Walsh! 

Tomorrow promises to be another big day at Punchestown with the Tote.com Gold Cup being the main event at 5.30pm and I for one can't wait to see what fabulous outfits will be on display at the event!

Don't forget to check out tomorrow's blog post and my posts throughout the week to see the stylish finalists and overall winner of Coast's Best Dressed Lady Competition!

As we approach the warmer weather, we come ever closer to the start of the social season and The Real Elle Woods was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the Punchestown Racing Festival 2013 at an evening showcasing some of Coast's stunning racing looks while celebrating their role as sponsors of the Festival's ‘Best Dressed Lady’ Competition!

Unfortunately I was unable to make the journey down to Dublin, but that hasn't stopped me from getting all the goss from the official launch on Thursday where guests enjoyed a showcase of Best Dressed looks from Competition sponsor Coast, and the Best Dressed Competition Judges were revealed!

Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club saw the merge of the most fabulous in the fashion industry with the most sophisticated in the racing world, as the official launch of Punchestown Racing Festival 2013 took place. The glamorous event was hosted by Dick O’Sullivan, General Manager of Punchestown and Liam Holton, Sales and Marketing Director, alongside Coast's Marketing & E-commerce Director, Jayne O’Keeffe.

The glamorous launch saw a showcase of ‘Best Dressed Lady’ looks from Coast’s Spring Summer 2013 Collection, highlighting the key trends in racing attire for this season, as modeled by Rosanna Davison, Roz Purcell, Alison Canavan Sarah McGovern and Adrienne Murphy. As guests were wowed by Coast's stunning looks, they enjoyed a drinks and canape reception throughout the evening, and mingled with some of the key players on the Irish racing scene in advance of next week’s racing festival.

Race-goers looking for that perfect outfit can make a personal ‘Coast By Appointment’ at Coast stores nationwide to enjoy style advice from the in-store occasionwear specialists, to ensure they are kitted out for the racing season ahead, and in prime attire to be in with a chance of being crowned Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown.

The evening also saw the announcement of the highly anticipated Celebrity Judging Panel who will decide on the daily ‘Best Dressed’ ladies from Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 24th at Punchestown Racing Festival next week, along with the final decision-makers on Friday April 26th!

Judging the style on the opening day of the festival will be Top Model Agent Andrea Roche, along with one of Ireland’s top models Roz Purcell and TV Presenter Pamela Flood. Wednesday will see TV3’s Xposé presenter Aisling O’Loughlin teaming up with former Xposé colleague Lorraine Keane and RTE Today show host Maura Derrane. On Thursday, Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power will be judging the style stakes along with TV3’s Ireland AM presenter Sinéad Desmond and TV personality Jenny Buckley will also be looking out for winning style. Friday’s final will be judged by Coast Managing Director Margaret McDonald, Chairman of Aurora Fashions Ireland Ian Galvin and Celebrity Stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick!

The overall winner and a friend will enjoy a 2 day stay at 3 international destinations where global fashion brand Coast has stores located - in New York, Madrid and London; she will have personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style consultations, with prize vouchers of €1,000 to be spent in each Coast store. All flights and hotel accommodation will be paid, so the focus is on enjoying the ultimate shopping experience at Coast in some of the world’s most stylish cities. A once in a lifetime prize for any budding fashionista!

The Punchestown Irish Jump Racing Festival 2013 will take place from Tuesday 23rd – Saturday 27th April, with the Coast Best Dressed Lady competition taking place over the first four days and the final on Friday, 26th of April. The Punchestown’s Party Pack ensures a complete day out for you and your friends from just €19pp, a super saving of €14 per person. With dining and hospitality packages available from €99pp it's the perfect girly day out, and the perfect excuse to show off your personal style in a fashionably fabulous outfit!

For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

My regular readers will know I love to get dressed up!! Any occasion to put on a fabulous dress and I'm there!! I've been lucky enough to attend a few race day Ladies Day's and honestly they are so much fun! The perfect girly day out, and a great opportunity to people watch and check out everyone's stunning style!

While there are a few Ladies Day's that take place throughout the year, it's The Punchestown Racing Festival which acts as the key event to open the social season and sets the tone for the style stakes that will be seen at racing festivals throughout the summer. It takes place from Tuesday 23rd April to Saturday 27th April, with the final of the Best Dressed Lady competition taking place on Friday 26th April!

It's with great pleasure that I can reveal that ultimate occasionwear specialists Coast have announced their sponsorship of the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ competition at the Punchestown Racing Festival for the second year running. Following the fantastic reaction from ladies in attendance last year, and the amazing experience 2012’s Best Dressed Lady Jennie Pierce enjoyed over the past 12 months, the coveted prize is up for grabs again this year. The most stylish lady at Punchestown 2013 will win a jet-set shopping spree with Coast at three international locations for her and a friend - to New York, Madrid and London!!

The lucky winner and a friend will enjoy a 2 day stay at each of the 3 destinations where global fashion brand Coast has stores located - in New York, Madrid and London; she will have personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style consultations, with prize vouchers of €1,000 to be spent in each Coast store. All flights and hotel accommodation will be paid, so the focus is on enjoying the ultimate shopping experience at Coast in some of the world’s most stylish cities. A jet-setting shopping spree across the fashion capital's of the world, seriously what girl wouldn't want to win that!!!

Ian Galvin, Chairman of Aurora Fashions Ireland, commented, ‘As last year’s winner Jennie Pierce has let us know what an amazing experience she had travelling to three international cities and enjoying Coast shopping sprees in each location, we are offering the same fantastic international shopping experience again this year. Coast Spring Summer 13 Collection offers the perfect races attire, and we want the ladies attending this year’s Festival not to be afraid to put their own stylish twists on Coast pieces to create individual and eye-catching looks. We’ll be particularly looking out for sophisticated Coast-wearing ladies at the 2013 Festival!”

The search for ‘Fashion On the Field: Coast’s Best Dressed Lady’ will be held over the first four days of the festival, with the judges being tasked with finding the Most Stylish Lady in attendance. Not to be forgotten, daily winners will be announced on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday who will each win a personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style session and a €1,000 Coast voucher. Each of the daily finalists will also receive a fabulous Coast goody bag.

For anyone who is loving the sound of being a part of this fantastic competition please note that this year the judges will be particularly looking out for ladies wearing racing attire from Coast – with their own stylish stamp on their looks, showcasing their interpretation of Coast’s key Spring Summer Collection, with a unique look. So ladies, start channelling your inner "Gok Wan" and have fun with your looks!

Race-goers can also make a personal ‘Coast By Appointment’ at Coast stores nationwide to enjoy style advice from the in-store occasionwear specialists, to ensure they are kitted out for the racing season ahead, and in prime attire to be in with a chance of being crowned Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown. 

Margaret McDonald, Managing Director, Coast, commented, “We are thrilled to be sponsoring Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown Racing Festival again this year, following the huge success of our involvement in last year’s Festival. As an occasionwear specialist brand we are delighted to partner with one of the most stylish racing events of the year. We saw some amazing fashion across the four days of last year’s event and are certain that this year we will have an equally difficult job in picking an overall winner, given the calibre of stylish and glamorous ladies who attend Punchestown. We know that the fashion tone for the season ahead is demonstrated and set by the ladies attending Punchestown in April, so we’re very excited to be in the position of choosing between them all and giving the winner the ultimate prize in fashion and glamour.” 

For anyone looking for some inspiration here's a sneak peek at some of the stunning new campaign images from Coast's High Summer Collection!!

The Punchestown Irish Jump Racing Festival 2013 will take place from Tuesday 23rd – Saturday 27th April. Punchestown offers a unique blend of fashion, entertainment, shopping, food, music and all the fun of a festival. The famous atmosphere comes alive when racing champions go head to head and Ireland’s most stylish ladies go peep-toe to kitten heel in the fashion stakes!

Welcoming the announcement, Dick O’Sullivan, General Manager, Punchestown racecourse said, “We are delighted that Coast are sponsoring the Best Dressed Lady competition at Punchestown again this year. Coast is regarded as a key shopping destination for style and glamour and is therefore an ideal fit for the event. The fashion element of the Festival has become a really exciting feature of what is widely considered one of the social and sporting highlights of the year.”

The Coast Best Dressed Lady competition will take place over the first four days with the final of the Best Dressed competition on Friday, 26th of April. Punchestown’s Party Pack ensures a complete day out for you and your friends from just €19, a super saving of €14 per person. With dining and hospitality packages available from €99 it’s no wonder why Punchestown is ‘everyone’s favourite day out’ and Ireland’s largest social event.

For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on Facebook and twitter.