Horse racing may be the focus of proceedings, but as any canny style watchers know Aintree is really all about the outfits.
The Grand National is renowned for its daring displays of fashion, and early arrivals on the first day of the festival did not disappoint.
Eager revellers started streaming through the gates of the Merseyside course from 11am today, dressed to impress in mini dresses and feathered fascinators.
While Cheltenham is all about the tweed country looks, Aintree is its more risqué cousin – and the looks on display this morning certainly lived up to that assessment, with many racegoers opting for thigh-skimming ensembles and plunging frocks.
Commanding attention in their racy numbers, revellers went all out in figure-hugging dresses, sheer attire and lacy looks as they flashed the flesh for their big day out.
Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, the three-day festival, which hosts the showpiece Grand National race on Saturday afternoon, takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.
Here come the girls! Glamorous Aintree racegoers don daring frocks and jumpsuits to kick off the Grand National festival in style
Ready for action! A couple show off their statement outfits as they arrive at the racecourse
Brolly good show! A woman stuns in a mini dress and white blazer as she protects her glamorous makeup and hair from the rain with an umbrella
Matchy-matchy! Three friends coordinate their looks for the festival in Merseyside
Cheers! Revellers get their pints in before the races start at the first day of the Grand National festival
Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn’t offensive or derogatory.
Yellow appeared to be a theme of the day, as glamorous racegoers brought the sunshine in off-the-shoulder frocks and halterneck dresses.
Elsewhere, one woman turned heads in a plunging black maxi dress, complete with a thigh-high split and a deep V-neckline.
Another racegoer showcased her enviable figure in a white mini dress featuring statement sleeves as she posed up a storm at the racecourse.
The revellers will no doubt soon be joined by famous faces, with the likes of Coleen Rooney and Helen Flanagan regularly attending the yearly occasion.
The festival, which this year takes place from Thursday April 9 to Saturday April 11, is one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar and attracts around 150,000 people to Aintree each year.
Strike a pose! Love Island’s Lucy Quinn and Hannah Olivia Kenyon attend Day 1 of The Aintree Grand National Festival
Bringing their A-game! A group of glamorous ladies showcase their figure-hugging ensembles as they wear matching shades of lemon and burgundy
Double trouble! A stylish duo show off their glamorous looks, from a yellow shoulderless mini to a sheer number as they arrive at the festival
A variety of style! From mini dresses to elegant maxis, there was an array of fashion on show at the three-day event
Thrice as nice! Three racegoers dressed in daring ensembles complete with sheer and cut-out detaling pose up a storm at the racecourse
Making a statement! A woman puts on a daring display in a corset-inspired mini dress
Leaving little to the imagination: One woman turned heads in a plunging black maxi dress, complete with a thigh-high split and a deep V-neckline
Having a brolly good time! Beaming racegoers show off their moves as they dance in the rain
Racegoers lose control of their umbrellas as they arrive at the three-day festival
Take cover! Revellers struggle against the wind and the rain as they walk around the racecourse
That’s creative! Racegoers without umbrellas use their jackets to shelter from the rain
Pretty in pink! Charlotte Dawson sported a plunging maxi dress, featuring a thigh-high split as arrived at the racecourse
Effortlessly elegant: Racegoers put on a more classy display in maxi dresses and a cream suit
What a laugh! A racegoer shares a giggle as she attends the three-day event in Aintree
It’s all about the accessories: Women teamed their glamorous dresses with impressive heels
Working it! A theme of the day was figure-hugging looks and mini dresses
Sharing is caring: A woman shares her umbrella with her friends as they get caught in the rain
She’s prepared for later! A racegoer carries a load of flip-flops on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival
No raining on their parade! Beaming racegoers shelter from the rain on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026
Who needs an umbrella! Women get creative as they try to protect their glamorous locks
It is also broadcast live to a television audience of around 800 million people worldwide.
The Grand National on Saturday, known as the People’s Race, draws attention across the UK in a way that perhaps no other horse race is able to do.
Home to the world’s greatest steeplechase, the race is run over around 4 miles, 2 1/2 furlongs.
It includes 30 fences to be jumped over two laps, making it the longest horse race in Britain (even though it used to be around one and a half furlongs longer).
The decision to shorten the race slightly was done to move the start line away from the grandstands in order to help prevent false starts and make the first jump safer, as jockeys and horses would reach it slower.
On Saturday, I Am Maximus heads the maximum field of 34 declared runners as he attempts to emulate Red Rum in Randox Grand National.
Think pink! Hannah Olivia Kenyon dressed in a statement floral gown with a billowing skirt
Bringing the sunshine! Love Island’s Lucy Quinn turned heads in a sheer lemon gown
Making sure all eyes are on them! Revellers donned elegant and vibrant ensembles for today’s racing as they commanded attention in their outfits
Racegoers on the first day of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree racecourse
Belles of the ball! Four stylish revellers pose for a photograph while attending the races
Racegoers shelter under an umbrella as they arrive in cool, wet weather to attend the opening day of the Grand National Festival
Armed police stand guard at the entrance as racegoers (behind) queue up for the gates to open to attend the opening day of the Grand National Festival
No horse since Ginger McCain’s Aintree legend has won the world’s most famous steeplechase, lost the title and then regained it. Red Rum won in 1973 and 1974 and was second in 1975 and 1976, before bringing the house down with a third victory in 1977.
Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus – who will be sporting cheekpieces for just the second time, the first being back in December 2022 – won two years ago in the hands of Paul Townend and found only stablemate Nick Rockett too good in 2025 when aiming to be the first dual winner since Tiger Roll.
As well as the past two winners, Mullins also runs Grangeclare West, who was third last year and will actually be the ride of Patrick Mullins, successful aboard Nick Rockett for his father last year but now overlooked in favour of the Bobbyjo Chase winner. Tom Bellamy picks up a dream spare ride on the defending champion.
