Thousands attend Grand National festival's first day

Woman in white dress with blue polka dots cheers a winner while one man with glasses checks his phone and a man with a bald head and greybeard looks onImage source, PA Media
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Aintree came alive with colour and revelry for the festival's first day

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Dresses, suits and sunshine lit up Aintree as thousands of racegoers arrived to take in the first day of the famous Grand National festival.

More than 150,000 people are due to attend the three-day event, which culminates on Saturday when the showpiece steeplechase race is run.

Crowds basked in bright spring weather for the festival's opening day, with an expected attendance of about 23,000.

Among those arriving was the Princess Royal, who attended a lunch held by charity Racing Welfare, of which she is president, before watching the first race.

Racegoers in a variety of outfits from microskirts to maxis and all lengths between.Image source, PA Media
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Groups of friends dressed to impress for the occasion

Regulars Kayla Jones, 31, from Wavertree, Liverpool, and Kaci-Lea Lynch, 22, from Huyton, Knowsley, were among the crowds.

Ms Lynch said: "It's always a good atmosphere, everyone goes wild and there is good energy.

"The sun is shining and the weather makes a lot of difference."

Couple walking arm in arm.The man with white slicked back hair, shades and a white beard and the woman has a whit dress with a floral pattern and white hat with flowers.Image source, PA Media
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More than 150,000 people are expected over the course of the meeting

Katie Young, 32, from Kildare in Ireland, wore a lilac dress and floral headpiece with a white coat for the races while supporting her partner, jockey Mark Walsh.

She said: "The atmosphere is just completely different at Aintree, it's more relaxed and everyone's here to have a good time.

"It's kind of hard to plan an outfit because of the weather - I tend to have two ready. The weather is warm so this dress came out."

Amanda and Stuart Coakley in gold and cream outfits including hats with feathers.Image source, PA Media
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Amanda and Stuart Coakley travelled to Aintree to coincide with birthday celebrations

Three racegoers. On the left the woman wears a white gomesi dress with large gold buttons. The woman in the centre has a sky blue dress with matching scarf and the woman on the right has a safari style dress.Image source, PA Media
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The three-day meeting culminates with the flagship Grand National steeplechase on Saturday

Amanda and Stuart Coakley, both 58, originally from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, were there for birthday celebrations wearing co-ordinated gold and cream outfits, including hats with feathers.

Mr Coakley said their outfits would be "even bigger" for Ladies Day on Friday.

"We just love the atmosphere, love Liverpool and love the people. It's got a real buzz," Mrs Coakley added.

A woman in a summer dress poses for a photo taken by her friend in a similar floral outfitImage source, PA Media
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Floral dresses were the order of the day amid the spring sunshine

Security measures were in place, including a flight restriction zone to stop drones, sniffer dogs and drug amnesty bins at entrances, with racegoers searched as they enter.

Two years ago, animal rights protesters delayed the Grand National by 15 minutes.

Last year, race safety changes included an earlier 16:00 BST start and saw the highest number of horses finishing since 1992.

Earlier, there was one horse fatality when Willy De Houelle, ridden by former Grand National winner Rachel Blackmore, fell in the second race of the day.

Katie Young in a lilac dress and floral headpiece with a white coat.Image source, PA Media
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Katie Young, whose partner is jockey Mark Walsh, said dressing for the races could be a tough choice

Crowds pack the course at AintreeImage source, PA Media
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The first day was attended by 23,000 people

Princess Anne in a dark blue jacket with patterned cream scarf watches the racesImage source, PA Media
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The Princess Royal was supporting a charity which sponsored a race

Stewards in high viz jackets search racegoersImage source, PA Media
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Extra security meant racegoers were searched

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