Look at me! Pippa hits the Cheltenham Festival in a new coat that was just another business deal ~ jennifer love hewitt baby

Deciding what to wear for a day at the races ought to be fun. But for Pippa Middleton, it seems it's strictly a matter of business.

Because four hours before she arrived at the Cheltenham Festival, we all knew exactly what her outfit would be – courtesy of a helpful press release from the company which supplied it.

Designer Katherine Hooker issued the missive to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister would be attending the races in one of her bespoke £815 coats.

Another day at the office: Pippa Middleton arrives at the Cheltenham Festival on day three

Horsing around: Pippa Middleton with her friend, banker Tom Kingston

Close: The two have been firm friends for a while and at one time were rumoured to have been dating

Keeping good company: Pippa spent the day at Cheltenham with her banker friend Tom Kingston, who has been her companion for various engagements in the past

Good friends: Pippa and Tom have stepped out together on many occasions, and at one time were rumoured to be dating

Close: The two have been firm friends for a while and at one time were rumoured to have been dating

She also tweeted: 'The sun is shining at Cheltenham and how GREAT does Pippa Middleton look in her Katherine Hooker Tori coat?'
And if that wasn't enough to guarantee plenty of photographs, the coat itself was in a particularly bright shade of yellow.

It meant all eyes – and cameras – were on Miss Middleton when she arrived at 1pm.

The 29-year-old completed her outfit with a Cossack hat, chocolate brown suede knee-high boots, £140 Givenchy sunglasses and a patent leather clutch bag.

When asked whether Miss Middleton had been given the coat – which is not available to buy until September – as a gift, the fashion house was uncharacteristically coy.

A spokesman for the Chelsea-based firm said: 'I'm afraid we don't discuss our customers at all.'

Eligible: A friend of Pippa's recently told the Daily Mail's Richard Kay, 'Tom is utterly charming, polite and very popular with the ladies. In fact, he is just the kind of guy you would want to introduce to your mother'

Getting along: Pippa and Tom, a Bristol graduate, are said to have met through mutual friends

Royal connections: The two watch the Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

Day at the races: Pippa Middleton arrives for the third day of Cheltenham races with pal Tom Kingston

Mellow yellow: Pippa looked stylish in the double-breasted coat

Keeping out the chill: Pippa joined the rest of Cheltenham's ladies in wearing a fur hat to protect herself from the cold

Retro: Pippa's brown and yellow outfit had a Seventies vibe, and she joined the majority of Cheltenham's ladies by wearing a fur hat for the occasion

And it is not known whether Miss Middleton approved the press release issued by the firm, which has a stall at Cheltenham.

As the day went on, the designer was keen to capitalise on the attention Miss Middleton was receiving, urging fans on Twitter to pre-order the coat.
Katherine Hooker is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, who wore two of her jackets on consecutive days when she attended Cheltenham with Prince William in 2007.

Furry nice: Pippa's hat topped off her springlike outfit with aplomb

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise: Pippa has learned the first rule of fashion

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise: Pippa has clearly learned the first rule of fashion

Hope she'd put a bet on! Pippa and Tom look on enthusiastically as the days racing gets underway

High drama: The two took in the Pertemps Final, where Richie McLernon and Holywell took first place

Big day: The two were at the Gloucestershire race course for St Patrick's Thursday

Fine form: Pippa Middleton and a friend check out the running order of the day

Having a ball: Pippa has had a good 2013, with a trip to Mustique, a cross country ski race and a new column at Waitrose under her belt

Pippa recently returned from a trip to Switzerland where she competed in a gruelling cross country ski marathon

Having a ball: Pippa has had a good 2013, with a trip to Mustique, a cross country ski race and a new career as a columnist at Waitrose magazine under her belt

Old friends: Pippa and Tom Kingston leaving a Mayfair members' bar after a night out last November

Earlier this week, the designer told a newspaper: '[The Duchess of Cambridge] doesn't take free clothes, and I've heard that from other people who sent her things.

'She always comes to the shop, which is nice. She's just an incredibly lovely person.'

Just as eye-catching as the coat was Miss Middleton's male companion. She is dating stockbroker Nico Jackson, 35, but attended Cheltenham with eligible banker Tom Kingston.

She and Mr Kingston, 34, roared with laughter as they watched the horses they were apparently backing lose in the third race. Miss Middleton covered her face with her hands and grinned, pointing to the last runners in the race and throwing her hands up in despair.

The pair have attended several sporting events together, and Miss Middleton is understood to be just good friends with the handsome Bristol graduate.

Yesterday they positioned themselves at the front of their private box, which had been hired by a law firm. The area was heavily guarded by police and security.

Punter Mark Connolly tweeted: 'Pippa Middleton just walked past … Never seen as many police around one person.'

Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall also attended, but watched from a separate hospitality area along with Tindall's rugby team-mates.

ONLY THE BEST: PIPPA MIDDLETON'S CUSTOM-MADE COAT

Pippa's coat is a Katherine Hooker's Tori coat, made bespoke for her in mustard yellow.

The custom-made versions sell for £815 on the company's website.
The British label, which has its headquarters in the upmarket London borough of Chelsea, has a stand at the race event this week where they are taking orders for their luxury outerwear.