Aintree racecourse was a sea of colour this morning as revellers kicked off the Grand National Festival in conventionally bright and bold fashion.
Racegoers embraced the warmer April weather in sleeveless dresses with plunging necklines and figure-hugging skirts as day one of the Merseyside racing meet got underway on Thursday.
While Cheltenham is all about the tweedy country looks, Aintree is its more glamorous cousin – and the flamboyant outfits in hues like yellow, bright blue, and fuschia pink did not disappoint.
Arriving at the racecourse in Liverpool, attendees could be seen holding on to their hats to keep them from flying off before settling in for a windy afternoon of drinking, dancing, and betting.
Dressed to impress, racing fans celebrated the arrival of spring in floral-patterned maxi dresses, fascinators with blooming accents, off-shoulder ensembles, and open-toed stilletos.
Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.
Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn’t offensive or derogatory.
The Grand National on Saturday, known as the People’s Race, drawing national attention in a way that perhaps no other horse race is able to do.
Aintree racecourse was a sea of colour this morning as revellers kicked off the Grand National Festival in conventionally bright and bold fashion
Racegoers embraced the warmer April weather in sleeveless dresses with plunging necklines and figure-hugging skirts as day one of the Merseyside racing meet got underway on Thursday
A racing enthusiast puts on a leggy display in a bright red dress, paired with matching pointed stilletos, for a bold, monochromatic look
Dressed to impress, racing fans celebrated the arrival of spring in floral-patterned maxi dresses, fascinators with blooming accents, off-shoulder ensembles, and open-toed stilletos
The festival takes a more relaxed approach to fashion, as compared to the Royal Ascot, with attendees encouraged to wear anything as long as it makes them feel confident
Anything goes at Aintree, as far as fashion is concerned, so long as racegoers feel confident and comfortable.
Guidance on its website reads: ‘We’re all unique, and no more so than in our sense of style and comfort.
‘For some, wearing a nice sweatshirt, pair of jeans and clean trainers is what makes them feel confident and at-ease.
‘For others, they might prefer to turn heads with a sharp suit or glamorous dress and high heels, particularly for one of our big race meetings.
‘But whatever your tastes, the most important thing when choosing your outfit is, of course, comfort and confidence.
‘So wear what feels right for you and will keep you feeling your best from start to finish, whatever the weather.’
Every year, millions of people gather at Aintree for the steeplechases, which spans 4 miles, 7 furlongs and 74 yards, making it the longest horse race in Britain even though it used to be around one and a half furlongs longer.
The World’s Greatest Steeplechase is the biggest gambled on horserace on the planet and bookmakers estimate £250m will be wagered on the three days of the Aintree and £150m on the big race alone.
A couple showed off their ‘His and Hers’ Aintree ensembles – complete with matching yellow accents and cream blazers
It appeared the dress code for day one was either pastel hues or vibrant reds, with another reveller putting their own spin on a bold, one-toned outfit – right down to the slingback heels with the heart detail
Every year, millions of people gather at Aintree for the steeplechases, which spans 4 miles, 7 furlongs and 74 yards, making it the longest horse race in Britain even though it used to be around one and a half furlongs longer
Powder blue dresses were another big trend on day one of the Grand National Festival
Revellers seen leaving trains in swarms at Aintree station on the opening day of the Grand National Festival
Not a sleeve in sight, as racegoers celebrated the arrival of spring in strapless and halter tops as the UK moves steadily towards summer
Sunny smiles! A pair off racegoers pose for the cameras ahead of the day’s races
Strong winds threatened to blow attendees’ hats right off their heads
A racegoer shows off her feminine, ruffled ensemble that screams ‘spring’
Ruffling feathers! A festivalgoer flashing a peace sign as she posed for photos at Aintree racecourse while showing off her pink halterneck dress
This year’s Grand National Saturday – the final day of the event – is predicted to be a ‘grey’ day for Britain’s bookmakers after it was revealed that a record six of the punters’ favourites to win this year are all greys – including Intense Raffles (9-1), Vanillier (10-1) and Kandoo Kid (16-1); the other three are Hyland (20-1), Coko Beach (66-1) and Fil D’Or (80-1).
Due to their stand-out hue, greys are loved by part-time punters at the National – despite only three ever winning the famous 30-fence contest, The Lamb in 1868, Nicolaus Silver in 1961, and Neptune Collonges in 2012.
Coral’s David Stevens said: ‘Five is the previous highest number of grey horses running in the Grand National, but that was when there were 40 or more runners, so the six lining up among the 34 runners this year sets a new record.
Greys have always been popular with racing fans, they stand out from the rest and are easier to spot in a race, which is particularly important in a race like the National.
‘Although with six in this year’s race, punters will need to watch even more closely to see which grey is carrying their cash!’ Stevens continued.
The bookmaker are offering odds of 5/2 that one of the six greys are victorious on Saturday, 12-1 that there is a grey horse one-two, and 40-1 greys fill the first three places.
With millions of adults placing a flutter on the big race, and considering grey horses are always popular, the bookmaker expect to face a flurry bets on the sextet.
Coral expect up to £150 million to be staked on the National this year, making it six times bigger than the second highest turnover horserace of the year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while the race will be watched by the biggest TV audience of the year.
This year’s Grand National Saturday – the final day of the event – is predicted to be a ‘grey’ day for Britain’s bookmakers after it was revealed that a record six of the punters’ favourites to win this year are all greys
Racegoers held onto their hats as Aintree kicked off on a windy day in Liverpool
One Aintree attendee shows off a pair of vibrant, patterned wedges that stood out among a sea of white and gold stilletos
While Cheltenham is all about the tweedy country looks, Aintree is its more glamorous cousin – and the flamboyant outfits in hues like yellow, bright blue, and fuschia pink did not disappoint
Last year’s winner, I Am Maximus, is the runner bookies fear the most with William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps reporting ‘a big gamble’ on the horse on Wednesday that cuts the 2024 winner from 11/1 to 8/1.
I Am Maximus now stands as the favourite for the race at 8/1, followed by Iroko and Stumptown, who are both priced at 9/1.
Phelps said: ‘This year’s Grand National looks one of the most open for a long time, with I Am Maximus now heading the betting for the 34-runner race at 8/1, and he’s the third different favourite we’ve had in as many days.
‘Given the open nature and big odds available across the field this year, we’re expecting plenty of betting interest up and down the country and could see total turnover on the race north of �150m.
‘It’s a huge week at Aintree, where total betting turnover for the three days could comfortably hit a quarter of a billion.’
