Skip to content

Sun shines on Grand National Ladies Day's stunning style

Jenny ColemanNorth West
PA Media A woman in a lilac dress and fascinator smiles in front of two guardsmen wearing full parade uniform of black busby hats and red jackets with black collarsPA Media
Spring style is on show as the second day of racing is set to get under way

This year's annual Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse is under way, with the biggest crowd in almost 15 years expected.

Thousands have headed to Merseyside for a day of fashion, entertainment and, of course, horseracing.

Doors opened at 10:30 BST and racing began at 13:45.

Ladies Day takes place on the second day of the racecourse's world famous Randox Grand National Festival.

Organisers said bookings among 18 to 24-year-olds had more than doubled for Ladies Day year on year, with this year's crowd expected to be the biggest since 2012.

PA Media Two women, one in a grey double-breasted trouser suit and one in a green halter-necked dress, hold glasses and stand at the front of a crowded stand at AintreePA Media
It was all eyes on the course as soon as the racing began
PA Media Zara Tindall wears a peach trouser suit and fascinator and sunglasses on Ladies Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree RacecoursePA Media
Zara Tindall, the King's eldest niece, was among the early arrivals at Aintree
PA Media Two women wearing white dresses and hats arrive at AintreePA Media
Thousands attended Ladies Day at the Grand National Festival
PA Media A group of men in grey suits and women in pink dresses and fascinators pose for a photo on a grassy slopePA Media
Ladies Day is an opportunity for all the racegoers to dress up in their finery
PA Media Three women stand in front of a wall of flowers. One wears a red dress and red fascinator hat, one wears a yellow dress and shocking pink hat and one wears a pastel pink fascinator and dressPA Media
Bold colours were being worn by racegoers on the biggest day for fashion at the festival
PA Media A woman wears a wide-brimmed red and white hat and red dress with large white dots and smilesPA Media
Polka dots of all sizes were the order of the day for many racegoers
Reuters A woman in a colourful cloak which has a picture of horse racing on it, crosses the racecourse at AintreeReuters
One racegoer was wearing the horse racing as well as watching it
PA Media A group of women in formal dresses stand with their back to the camera studying the odds at AintreePA Media
Form was as important as fashion to many of the racegoers
PA Media A woman in a yellow dress takes a selfie with her phone with a woman in a blue and white floral dress and a blue hatPA Media
In amongst the official photographers, there were plenty of chances to take a selfie or two
PA Media Four women stood in a line looking at the camera. One is wearing a pink dress and fascinator, one is wearing a black and white polka dot dress and black hat, a third is wearing a yellow dress and white fascinator and the fourth is wearing a brown dress.PA Media
A crowd of 50,000 was expected at the Merseyside racecourse
PA Media A woman in a green dress and purple hat cheers while holding a mobile phone as a man in a blue suit and tie and a woman in a white and black patterned dress stand either side of herPA Media
Down at the fence, many people were cheering on their horses in the hope of a win
PA Media Four women in yellow, black and cream dresses smile and pose for the cameraPA Media
It was smiles all round for many as the sun shone on the racecourse
PA Media Six women in formal dresses, three with fascinators, sit on a collection of black deckchairs near a crowd of racegoersPA Media
For some, the sight of a spare deckchair was a welcome chance for a quick sit-down
PA Media Four women stood in a line smiling at the camera. Three are weraing polka dot dresses and a fourth is wearing a lilac dress.PA Media
Some groups had co-ordinated their style
Reuters Three women, one in an orange dress and another wearing a dress covered in pink flowers, cover their mouths and gasp as they watch the racing Reuters
It was a nervous time for some once racing got under way
PA Media A group of horses and jockeys finish a race in their multicoloured silks in front of crowded stands at the Grand National meetingPA Media
Crowds thronged in the stands for the racing
PA Media A woman in dressed in a multi-coloured floral dress with a woman in a green and pink leopard print dressPA Media
Florals and bright prints were also popular with racegoers

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story