Grand National 2024: Fashion comes in first at Ladies Day as stunning racegoers smash Aintree’s Style Awards

It wasn’t just the racing that was under starter’s orders at Aintree today on the second day of the Randox Grand National Festival.

On Ladies Day fashion is the front runner as thousands of racegoers go all out for glam in a bid to bag a prize in the coveted Grand National Ladies Day Style Awards – and as the sun shone at the famous Aintree Racecourse, so too did the outfits.

A stunning new pink carpet was rolled out for entrants to this year’s awards which were already tipped to be the best yet, with iconic high street name River Island joining House of Cavani as Official Style Partner.

And those aiming to gallop home with the titles – for 2024 there were three winners instead of the usual first, second and third – made sure that was the case.

Claire Illingworth and Ainsley Briscoe were winners of the two Best Dressed Awards.

Claire looked stunning in a soft lemon button-fronted dress with bell sleeves from Lavish Alice, and she carried a box-style handbag and wore a pillbox hat with back bow detail.

Ainsley wore a pink floral trouser suit from ASOS with co-ordinating pink sinamay fascinator.

They each pick up a £4,000 River Island voucher, two Garden Club tickets to next year’s Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival, a Randox Health Full Body Everywoman or Everyman package plus a £250 voucher from House of Cavani.

Sally Ann Morgan was winner of this year’s new award for The Most Sustainably Dressed, specially designed to reward the person who’d shown style didn’t have to cost a fortune, with an outfit from a resale site like Vinted or Depop, a vintage or charity shop buy, or a look that’s been recycled.

Her chic outfit was made by her mum. Crimson trousers were teamed with a matching hat and set off by a white voile blouse with fabulous front bow.

They will receive a £2,000 River Island voucher, two Garden Club tickets to the 2025 Ladies Day, a Randox Health Full Body Everywoman or Everyman package plus a £250 voucher for Virgin Experience Days.

Runners up for Best Dressed were named as Lewis Connolly and Olivia Laveric, with Emily Bull runner up in the Most Sustainably Dressed Award.

The Guide’s own Gemma Cutting, who was one of the judges of the Ladies Day Style Awards along with Love Island’s Frankie Foster and fashion writer Emily Sleight, said:

“As always the standard was super high, I feel like more so this year.

“There were so many beautifully-dressed people – some really good lads actually who’d really made an effort and stood out.

“But the winners that we picked, we’re super happy with, and absolutely delighted for them. I think they look amazing and it’s brilliant that we have the sustainability winner this year as well, which is just great.”

Congratulations to all of the winners at this year’s Ladies Day Style Awards!

Keep up to date with all the action from Ladies Day live at Aintree Racecourse here.