Hugh Bonneville enjoyed a day at the races on Friday, but he wasn't just a celebrity spectator.
Despite the miserable weather the actor had a smile on his face as he watched his horse Gothic make his seasonal debut at Sandown Park Racecourse.
But it wasn't a win for the Downton Abbey star, as his stallion came in fourth place.
And they're off! Hugh Bonneville watches his horse race at Sandown Park
Gothic is part of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Pretrushka Syndicate, and had previously won the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Maiden Stakes. He will also race in the Investec Derby.
'For a rookie like me to be involved with two horses who have both won and one who has an entry in the Derby is very exciting,' Bonneville told Horsetalk.
On Friday, the actor looked the part in a suit and tie, under a brown tweed pea coat with a fedora hat on his head.
Hugh was joined by his wife Lulu Williams, but earlier that week he had filled the shoes of Lord Grantham once more, as production for the new series of Downton Abbey kicked off.
Big day: Hugh was joined by his wife Lulu Williams to watch his horse Gothic come in fourth place
Taking a break: Hugh is currently filming the fifth season of Downton Abbey
Bonneville was joined by his onscreen daughter Michelle Dockery who plays, Lady Mary Crawley, along with her brother-in-law Tom Branson, played by Allen Leech.
The three actors were spotted walking with the Lord's Labrador dog.
Dame Maggie Smith, who plays Violet Crawley, the Countess of Grantham, and Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawly), have also been filming in Bampton Village this week.
The new series will see a number of new faces in the cast, with Richard E. Grant brought in to play art historian Simon Bricker, who will be a guest at the Crawley house and is set to cause some drama.
Looked the part: Bonneville wore a grey suit under a tweed coat for the racing day out
Voice: Hugh Bonneville will feature in Paddington, the animated movie about the Peruvian bear who comes to London
The character appears in four episodes later this year and threatens to 'cause ructions'. Rade Serbedzija and Anna Chancellor are also expected to join the cast.
Fans of the show were thrilled when its creator Julian Fellowes revealed there would be a sixth series, after the fifth was widely thought to be the last. He told The Express:
'I have no plans to stop writing and while ratings are as high as they are I can't see they wouldn't commission another series. It's just that they won't confirm until the fifth series is televised.'
On set: Michelle Dockery and Allen Leech join Hugh outside a churchyard to film new scenes for Downton Abbey
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