The Grand National is the centrepiece of the three-day Aintree Festival at the Liverpool course, which starts on Thursday 3 April

Last year over 148,000 people came to the meeting with 68,100 attending Grand National day

Whatever the weather, Ladies Day on Friday is one of the social highlights of the meeting

Coleen McLoughlin, Wayne Rooney's fiancee, is a regular at the Grand National meeting

As the jockeys gather for the start of the Grand National, there is always plenty of tension in the air

Becher's Brook is one of the most famous fences on the course and is jumped twice during the Grand National

Standing at 6ft 9in on the landing side, each year Becher's ends the Grand National hopes of some contenders

The 1997 race was delayed because of a bomb scare, forcing racegoers to evacuate the course

Ginger McCain is the most successful Grand National-winning trainer in recent times with four victories

Former winners like Aldaniti (left) with jockey Bob Champion and Red Rum (right) are part of Aintree folklore

Twelve months ago, Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Gordon Elliott emerged victorious