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A sell-out crowd and the biggest Ladies Day attendance since 2012; today racegoers turned heads with their elegant looks on one of the most anticipated days in Liverpool’s social calendar.
Often dubbed the Scouse Met Gala, Aintree once again became the place to see and be seen, with bold looks, big energy and unforgettable moments from start to finish. Here’s a recap of the standout moments...
Hannah Smith, 29, from Edinburgh was named Best Dressed at The Style Awards 2026 on Ladies Day and admitted it was "meant to be" after she lost part of her outfit before she arrived at the racecourse.
Her look, a soft pink suit with flower-embellished fitted jacket and chiffon maxi skirt from Dutch fashion company Leyna Dresses, and a Millinery by Mel fascinator, was put together for less than £400 and landed her a luxury trip to Ibiza, worth up to £4,000 thanks to official Style Partner, Debenhams.
This year's Style Awards featured two new categories, Best Suited - which recognised impeccable tailoring - and Best Hat, which honoured bold, beautiful and unforgettable millinery.
Euan Perryman, 22, from Liverpool was named Best Suited for his £2,500 custom-made Loro Piana suit and Sarah Williams, 46, from St Helens, scooped the Best Hat award thanks to her £180 pink, rose gold and glittery headpiece, with butterfly decorations, from Gilly’s Millinery.
Grey Dawning (5-1) battled all the way to the line with long-time leader Solness (8-1) before narrowly coming out on top to score in the £250,000 JCB Melling Chase.
Dropping back in trip, following a fourth-place finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Grey Dawning jumped fluently before showcasing his stamina to win his second Grade One contest of the season.
On the closely fought battle, winning trainer Dan Skelton said: “I thought we’d win going to the last, two, three strides out. Halfway up the run-in the line couldn’t come quick enough, but he’s used that stamina, he’s been very tenacious today.”
19-year-old Conor Stone-Walsh enjoyed the perfect Aintree debut when piloting Will The Wise (9-1) to success over the Grand National fences in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase.
The Irish conditional jockey guided the winner, trained by Gavin Cromwell, to a length and a quarter victory over Ile Atlantique in perfect preparation for the Randox Grand National where he partners Final Orders.
Conor Stone-Walsh said: “He jumped from fence to fence, filled himself after the Canal Turn - he wasn’t for stopping up the straight. It was some feeling. Fair play to Rachel who looks after him and the whole team at home.”
Wiltshire-based trainer Neil King saddled the first Grade One winner of his career when Storming George (16-1) came with a great run to land the ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old came home two and three-quarter lengths to the good over Sinnatra (6-1) in the hands of Jack Quinlan.
Praising the winner trainer Quinlan said: “Neil does so much of the work himself - he’s in the yard every day, he’s driven the horse here himself today, he actually rides the horse a hell of a lot. He is a huge part of this success - I’m just the lucky one who gets to sit on top and enjoy it. All credit to Neil, his family and his team.”
