A sold-out crowd of 53,102 enjoyed Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse today, the biggest attendance for the fixture since 2012 and an increase of 5,500 on last year’s 47,532.

On the course Grey Dawning produced a bold display of jumping to land the feature race, the Grade One JCB Melling Chase, while Will The Wise won the Randox Topham Handicap Chase run over the iconic Grand National fences.

Off the track The Style Awards were split into three categories, with Best Dressed going to Hannah Smith, 29, from Edinburgh, Best Suited to Euan Perryman, 22, from Liverpool and the Best Hat award to Sarah Williams, 46, from St Helens.

Before racing a number of jockeys took part in the annual visit to see patients at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, with former Grand National winner Neptune Collonges joining them to bring smiles to the faces of boys, girls, parents and staff.

Tomorrow Aintree Racecourse will celebrate Oliver Christie, a five-year-old with a life-limiting congenital heart condition who has been named the honorary ‘35th runner’ in the Randox Grand National.

Dickon White, The Jockey Club’s North West Regional Director, said: “Ladies Day at Aintree is always a day to remember, and we’ve been treated to some brilliant sporting action on course and a real party atmosphere off it.

“The Style Awards were as competitive as ever and our congratulations go to all the winners and those who gave our judges such a difficult task.

“All eyes now turn to the world’s greatest steeplechase tomorrow and one of the marquee days in the global sporting calendar. The only tickets remaining are for our embankment enclosure and we are all set for a fitting crescendo to the 2026 Randox Grand National Festival.”

Following the second race of the day, the winner, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.

A spokesperson for Aintree Racecourse said: "He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections."