UNDER STARTER'S ORDERS AT EPSOM RACECOURSE CAPRICE BOURRET WINS BY A HEAD AS SHE MODELS HAUTE HATS FOR A CAUSE CLOSE TO HER HEART

Striking a confident pose alongside an elegant racehorse in the bright spring sunshine, Caprice Bourret is in her element joining Hello! for an exclusive interview and photoshoot at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

- EMILY HORAN

“I actually grew up at the races,” says the 52-year-old model, actress and businesswoman, as she shows off a kaleidoscope of colourful millinery creations ahead of the Epsom Derby, which takes place on Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June.

Fondly recalling her childhood in California, she continues: “My mom used to own a racehorse and I have vivid memories of going to the winners’ circle with our jockey and the other owners of our horse, Big City Miss.

“I used to be quite lucky as a child because I would instinctively pick the winners. It was quite an ongoing joke as I would know nothing about betting.

“But just recently, I tried betting on instincts and failed miserably, so I guess that technique didn’t roll over into my adult life.”

GOING THE DISTANCE

Caprice – the mum of ten-year-old sons Jett and Jax with her financier husband Ty Comfort, whom she married in a low-key ceremony shortly before Christmas 2019, after meeting through a mutual friend – is certainly on winning form on our shoot.

She’s also supporting a cause close to her heart. The six showstopping hats and fascinators she’s modelling are part of an exclusive collection of 15 haute couture pieces launched to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research on its 15th anniversary.

“I’ve been a patron for the past five years,” says Caprice, who had neurosurgery in 2017 to remove a thumb-sized tumour – a benign meningioma – from the front of her skull. “I’ve not only donated a substantial amount of money, but I’ve fought to raise funds and awareness endlessly to find a cure for this horrible, horrible disease.