Racegoers have showed off their Grand style as they get dressed up ahead of the National at Aintree in horse racing’s biggest event of the year.
Revellers have put their best fashion foot forward for the final day of the annual festival which will see the world’s best jockeys go head to head.
Guests have arrived at the Merseyside racecourse in a flurry of precarious heels, statement hats and dramatic dresses.
Arrivals at the meet ahead of the big race at 4pm have set the sartorial bar high, putting on a glamorous display in colourful fascinators and fabulous frocks.
More than 150,000 spectators have descended on the races over the course of the three-day event, which has built up to the showpiece chase on Saturday.
Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, the festival takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.
And while Cheltenham is all about the tweed country looks, Aintree sees more of an array of different outfits on display.
Racegoers have gone all out in figure-hugging dresses, enormous hats and sunnies as they enjoy the spring sunshine.
Aintree Racecourse in Sefton, Merseyside, has hosted the historic Grand National Festival since 1839.
This year’s event, which opened on Thursday, has attracted revellers across the country who have taken the opportunity to dress up to the nines.
Ladies’ Day, which took place on the second day of races on Friday, is all about the fashion, alongside the meet, with the Style Awards for the best-dressed attendees.
It came after Opening Day on Thursday, which is considered the day for true racing aficionados – and is often when new jockey talent emerges.
Thousands of people are packing the grandstands on Saturday ahead of the iconic final contest.
Gates opened at 10am to allow attendees to settle in ahead of the legendary steeplechase in the afternoon.
Though spectators are enjoying a full programme of racing during the daytime, all eyes are on the namesake Grand National event.
The electrifying race will see a field of 34 runners take on what is widely considered one of the biggest dates in the international horseracing calendar.
The riders will take on 30 fences as part of the main event, which will near on close out the festival, before a final flat race at 5pm.
The current favourite to win the contest is Panic Attack, at odds of seven to one, according to bookmakers Paddy Power.
Organisers of the event came under fire overnight after a sickening incident on the course cast a cloud over the second day of the Grand National meeting.
Gold Dancer, Paul Townend’s mount in the William Hill Mildmay Novices Chase, had produced a brilliant round of jumping in the Grade One contest.
But the gelding, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, suddenly sprawled on landing after hitting the last fence.
It looked momentarily as if Townend – the seven-time Irish champion, who is regarded as the best National Hunt rider of his generation – might slip out of the saddle.
But he regained his balance and was able to cajole Gold Dancer for the last furlong to win the race and claim the £67,524 first prize.
The event soon descended into chaos, however, as it quickly emerged the seven-year-old animal had been severely injured.
He was quickly attended to by racecourse vets but, on examination, they discovered Gold Dancer had broken his back and the gelding was tragically euthanised.
Outrage and opprobrium rained down on Townend, who has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Animal protection organisation PETA has said the meeting should be called ‘The Grand Massacre’, noting 68 horses have been fatally injured at Aintree since 2000.
Townend was approached for comment but did not wish to speak after the race.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) stewards held an enquiry when he returned to the weighing room, as is standard.
After listening to all evidence, they said no blame could be attached.
The BHA said in a statement: ‘We are all saddened by the fatal injury of Gold Dancer and our thoughts are with everybody connected to the horse.
‘After the race, the stewards held an enquiry to consider the circumstances of this incident and took evidence from vets and the horse’s jockey.
‘Paul Townend told the stewards that, following a bad mistake at the final fence, Gold Dancer took a stride or two to gather himself but felt sound and continued running in a straight line to the finish.
‘He then reported that Gold Dancer’s action changed after the line, as he rounded the bend and changed from a canter to a trot, at which point he immediately dismounted to allow veterinary surgeons to quickly attend to the horse.
‘The veterinary assessment was that the appropriate course of action was to humanely euthanise the horse.’
They added: ‘Having reviewed the footage of the incident, James Given, the BHA’s Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, agreed that Gold Dancer’s action was typical of a horse in the closing stages of such a race, that he appeared sound until rounding the bend.
‘As is the case with any fatal injury, the incident will now be looked at in detail through our fatality review process, which is part of the sport’s commitment to ongoing improvements in racehorse safety.’
An Aintree Racecourse statement read: ‘The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.
‘He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.’
The final day of the contest on Saturday has bookies bracing for the ‘ultimate sporting bonanza’.
The Grand National has fallen in the same weekend as the US Masters and Tyson Fury’s comeback – and they are all expected to spark a giant betting spree.
Ladbrokes expects a ‘perfect storm’ as punters gamble on the big race at Aintree, the golf at Augusta and former world heavyweight champion Fury’s return against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The ‘rare trifecta’ will ‘spark the busiest day of the year for bookies’, the firm said.
The industry estimates about £150million will be bet on the Grand National alone.
