..And they’re
Wind does its best to spoil the show.. but hats win by a head
AINTREE’S most fashionable females were head and shoulders above the rest on Ladies’ Day.
Blustery winds meant racegoers had to hold on tight, but there was bright sunshine to match the outfits.
Emmy Slade, 22, Biddy Maloney, 15, and Holly Samantha, 23, from Liverpool, based their stylish outfits on Hollywood movie queens.
Mimicking Marilyn Monroe, model Holly, said: “I’m so pleased with the outfit as it makes me feel like a Hollywood star. It’s wonderful coming here as the sun is shining and everyone is ready for a great day.”
Emmy, who had taken inspiration from screen icon Audrey Hepburn, said: “I feel really glamorous and amazing.
Being here is a thrill.”
It was a special day in more ways than one for newlyweds Blaize
Young, 33, and George
Clarkson, 31.
The couple married at St George’s Hall in
Liverpool city centre yesterday before heading to the course for a flutter.
Mum-of-two Blaize, who was experiencing
Ladies’ Day for the first time, said: “We’ve just had our legal ceremony, it was just me and George.
“Our photographer was one witness and our taxi driver was the other. We love Liverpool, we come here all the time but it just turned out to be our wedding on Ladies’ Day.
“When we knew it was going to be the same day, we knew we were going to have to come – you can’t come to Liverpool and not come to the races.”
But it’s not just style icons who could steal the show at the Grand National today.
One jockey could be upstaged by his imminently due baby, but his wife has pledged the race should go on even if she goes into labour in the stands. Harry Skelton, 34, has vowed nothing will stop him riding Galia Des Liteaux in the National despite wife Bridget,
30, being ready to drop in just 10 days.
Harry, from Alcester, Warwickshire, said: “She will want me to be out there having a chance of winning a Grand National.
“That would be the absolute dream, to win the Grand National, then get the call!
“Bridget is here up at Aintree with me and her waters could break in the middle of the paddock in front of the winner’s enclosure.
“At least there would be a doctor on hand if that happened.”
Another husband and wife duo, trainer Tom Ellis, 39, and jockey Gina Andrews, 32, are hoping their horse, Latenightpass, will be the winning steed tomorrow.
Tom, from Rugby, Warwickshire, said: “It is a huge thing for us to be doing as a family. I feel very honoured and privileged.
“It is a little bit bonkers to think someone like us has got a runner in the Grand National.”
Bookies estimate €116million will be wagered on the National, which goes off at 4pm today. The 176th running of the famous steeplechase will be streamed worldwide to a TV audience of around 800 million.
But there was news to dampen the mood as a horse died after falling in the first race of the day yesterday.
Giovinco suffered a fatal injury after falling at the final fence of the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
The news was condemned by animal rights group Animal
Rising.