Aintree 2024 Ladies Day: Revellers get a very early start on day 2 of the festival as they compete for £5,000 Best Dressed prize

Revellers kicked off Ladies Day at Aintree today sporting daring headwear and plunging necklines as they compete for the £5,000 Best Dressed prize.

Donning their finest ensembles, racegoers put their best feet forward and stepped out during the brisk early morning weather to parade their outfits ahead of the second day of events.

While the festival is all about horse racing, today is the day racing fans will take part in a competition to win the coveted cash prize after being crowned best dressed. 

The earliest arrivals at the racecourse brought bright shades and fabulous headwear, but they had to clutch onto their large fascinators as they battled blustery winds in Liverpool. 

One racegoer opted for a deep purple and butter yellow combination in a figure-hugging dress teamed with an elaborate floral fascinator.

Another chose a teal frock with a structured collar, which was paired with a very summery yellow netted fascinator which complemented her blonde bob perfectly.

In another ode to the natural world, a fellow reveller arrived in a multicoloured flowing maxi dress which she accessorised with a blue fascinator featuring a stunning fuchsia floral print.

The stunning fashion displays follow a first day of excitement on the racecourse where party-loving racegoers enjoyed an evening of fun after nail-biting action on the course.

A trio of women put on a leggy display as they opted to wear short dresses rather than maxi frocks.

 One of them donned a monochrome polka-dot dress with black heels and a matching oversized floppy hat. 

Another went for a more tailored look and chose a white pinstripe fitted dress with a collar and tie, along with a silver glitzy bag. 

The third friend donned a 1920s-inspired black frock with tassel hem and black heels, along with a large hat. 

As the day went on, revellers sipped on champagne and danced the night away, proving that teetering stilettos were no match for the dance floor.

Dressed to impress, racing fans went all out in pink tones, fabulous florals, strappy sandals and bouncy hairdos.

Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.

Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn’t offensive or derogatory.

One woman even showed off her love for Manchester United, as she donned a bardot dress which showed off her tattoo.

Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world, over the next few days.

Celebrities, including Liverpool legend John Barnes, were among the guests in attendance.

The former England star opted for a tweed look while his wife Andrea channelled Minnie Mouse chic in a navy polka dot dress and red cardigan.

As well as enjoying the racing, revellers will no doubt get into the party spirit with plenty of champagne to go around.

The Grand National on Saturday, known as the People’s Race, drawing national attention in a way that perhaps no other horse race is able to do.

Every year, millions of people gather at Aintree for the steeplechases, which spans 4 miles, 7 furlongs and 74 yards, making it the longest horse race in Britain even though it used to be around one and a half furlongs longer.

The decision to shorten the race slightly was done to move the start line away from the grandstands in order to help prevent false starts and make the first jump safer as jockeys and horses would reach it slower.