Over 500 entries so far for the ‘at home’ Ladies Day Style Award with Aintree Racecourse

The Randox Grand National at Aintree might have been cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown, but there’s no stopping racegoers getting on their glam to celebrate anyway.

Instead of the usual champagne breakfast to set them up for a fantastic Ladies Day Friday at the racecourse, hundreds and hundreds have dressed up and joined in the fun in their own living room.

After the announcement that the festival wasn’t going ahead, the Jockey Club and The Guide Liverpool teamed up to rescue one of the city’s favourite diary dates of the year.

We’ve been hosting a Grand Day In, inviting racegoers from across the country to put on their outfits at home and enter the UK’s biggest virtual Style Award – and what an unbelievable response we’ve had.

It’s the first time anyone not attending Ladies Day itself has been able to enter the Style Award, so it’s already been something special. But we’ve been overwhelmed by the number, and the amazing style, of everyone taking part.

Gorgeous punters – women and quite a few dapper blokes too – have been uploading photos of themselves in their outfits, or just the outfits displayed, via the Ladies Day Facebook event page, as well as sharing pictures in their race day finest on social media using the hashtags #AGrandDayIn and #FabulousFriday.

The Guide Liverpool ’s Jay Hynd and Gemma Cutting have the tough job of judging the entries and picking two winners to claim the titles of Best Dressed Male and Best Dressed Female ‘virtual racegoers’. The lucky pair will win free hospitality packages for next year’s Randox Health Grand National Ladies Day which will take place on Friday 9^th April 2021.

The good news is entries aren’t limited to Ladies Day Friday – they can be submitted on the Facebook event page until 12 noon on Monday April 6.  The winners of both categories will be announced on Aintree Racecourse’s social media channels at 5pm on Monday.

Director of The Guide Liverpool, Jay Hynd, says the standard has already been incredibly high, but that doesn’t mean in true Aintree tradition, a winner couldn’t come with a late sprint finish.

He said: “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the effort so many people have put into recreating their races looks for the contest. We were all really disappointed that the festival couldn’t go ahead, but the Grand Day In virtual Style Award has really cheered everyone up and given them a reason to wear their outfits and they all look fabulous.

“It’s going to be really difficult for me and Gemma to pick the winners, but we’ll be studying form over the weekend so it’s definitely still worth entering because everyone’s in with a chance.”

You have until 12pm on Monday to upload your photo from home via the Aintree website here.