Zara Phillips at Eyton Races

Horse-loving royal Zara Phillips was among the thousands to get a soaking at Shropshire's Eyton Races.

The Queen's grand-daughter turned up at the event in support of her trainer Sarah Rippon, who rode Metal Detector to victory in the Ladies Open event at the course.

Phillips, who is an eventing world champion herself and won the Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006, led the horse into the winners' enclosure after it won a clear victory in the race, finishing 15 lengths ahead of second-placed Whistling Straits.

Arthur Shone, a spokesman for Eyton Races, said the Bank Holiday Monday gathering had been a wet one.

"The North Shropshire meeting at Eyton-on-Severn on Easter Monday was definitely a fixture for the die-hard point-to-point enthusiasts, the heavy rain throughout the first five races was torrential, which meant the reduced attendance got even smaller as the afternoon wore on as people went home to dry out," he said.

Among the major winners on the day was Sheila Crow, a trainer from Hadnall, who completed a double at the event.

Phillips is likely to be back in the area this weekend for the Weston Park Spring Horse Trials.