Grand National winner drops in on city centre event

An event aimed at bringing more of the buzz of the Grand National to Liverpool city centre saw a visit from the 2012 winning horse.

The Grand Reveal took place at Exchange Flags behind Liverpool Town Hall on Thursday to mark the start of three-day Randox Grand National Festival.

Twenty-four-year-old Neptune Collonges, which won with rider Daryl Jacob, appeared alongside the race's first female winner, Rachel Blackmore.

The event aimed to recreate the festival atmosphere of the races in the city centre and give the races a "family friendly focus", Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool Business Improvement District (BID) said.

Addy said: "It's a way of showing that the city recognises the importance of The Jockey Club's work at Aintree, but it's also about how we can bring families into our city centre for family, fun events that are free.

"It's vitally important that we, as a city, can attract international visitors, but also, we can attract international events.

"But it's how we shape those events to make it so that it's more accessible for the people of the city and the city region."

The Exchange Flags event is funded through the city's £2 overnight visitor levy, which is an extra charge placed on hotel room bookings, with the cash going towards supporting events.

Organisers said there was a growing focus on how major sporting events in the city could help to increase the number of people coming into the city, overnight stays and economic impact across the city region.

Attractions on display included a Winner's Enclosure, racing simulators, a Jockey Gym and Stable experience, as well as a commentator box where members of the public could try to commentate on a race.

The celebrations to mark the start of the three-day festival continued into the evening with Liverpool landmarks including St John's Beacon and Royal Albert Dock lighting up.

The Grand National is estimated to be worth about £60m to the local economy.

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.