IT may have been pouring with rain, but nothing could dampen the performance of the brilliant Jess Glynne at Haydock Park, writes Nathan Okell.

Thousands turned up to watch the pop superstar perform some of her biggest hits, and she certainly did not disappoint.

With the stage bathed in blue lights and the crowd waiting in anticipation, the Londoner kicked off with her holiday anthem, Hold My Hand. Glynne apologised about the driving rain, however this did not seem to matter to her adoring audience who were singing and dancing throughout.

After renditions of No One and These days, the singer melted the heart of everyone in the racecourse after inviting nine-year-old Riley on stage to sing Thursday. It was undoubtedly the moment of the concert as it gave young Riley, who suffers from a skin condition, the chance to perform in front of thousands of people with his favourite artist.

Glynne continued to keep the crowd and their umbrellas bouncing along to Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself, Rather Be, All I Am and a Real Love. It looked as if she would be wrapping up early after thanking the crowd and dimming the stage lighting, but the singer had everyone backtracking to their positions as she belted out Right Here and I’ll Be There to finish on a high.

Glynne saluted the cheering racegoers as she left the stage and said she had a lot of fun performing for them. I’m sure everyone who came out to watch felt the same, as did the many who could hear the concert from their homes as far away as Parr and Moss Bank.