Glitz and Glam on Day Two of the Grand National Festival
It's Ladies Day at Aintree
Last updated 8th Apr 2022
Liverpool's ladies are taking centre stage today as the most glamorous day of the Grand National Festival steps into action.
Tens of thousands are expected at Aintree for Ladies Day with green, red and hot pink the most popular colours this year.
We've been speaking to Deena - who runs Felicity Hat Hire in Childwall.
She says after three years away from the spotlight it's time to do Liverpool proud:
"Every single girl that visits us, without exception, brings the dress, the hat and shoes and they talk in detail about all the planning that has gone into the outfit.
"Our girls are simply the best."
The Grand National Festival kicked off on Thursday (7 April) and continues today with Ladies Day and culminates with the world-famous steeplechase on Saturday.
It sees the return of crowds to the festival, which was cancelled in 2020 for the first time since the Second World War, as the country went into lockdown.
Since then, the public have been invited to the racecourse to receive their Covid vaccinations and for coronavirus testing, but last year racing was held behind closed doors with only a handful of owners and trainers able to spectate.
The three-day meeting is expected to draw more than 150,000 spectators.
Hospitality bosses at the track will serve up thousands and thousands of litres of bubbly.
Bea runs one of the Prosecco vans at Aintree - she says it's a day they've been preparing for for a while:
"For us, preparation is key. We need to put a lot of thought into it - making sure we've got enough stock so we don't run out.
"I love Ladies Day - I love seeing what the women are wearing - obviously they love prosecco and pimms - and that's where we come in. But it's just a good day."
Dickon White, North West regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said:
"We have a sold-out Grand National day which shows people have really been craving live events, particularly live sporting events.
"Come 5.15pm on Saturday we will have 70,000 on the racecourse for the Grand National."