And they're off! Fillies in fake tan, fascinators and flashy frocks descend on Aintree for the first day of racing and revelry



The opening day of the Grand National Festival saw racegoers dressed up to the nines descend on Aintree



Leading the charge was local style icon, Coleen Rooney, who wore a hot-pink dress and matching heels

Despite the chilly weather, strapless dresses, bare legs and open sandals proved popular with the style set

Other trends to win the approval of the Aintree crowd included monochrome and summery floral print



The highlight of today's on-course action is the Dominican Republic Handicap Hurdle at 5.45pm




Resplendent in a rainbow frocks, eye-wateringly high heels and lashings of fake tan, the ladies were out in force as the first day of racing at Aintree kicked off.

But not everyone managed to pull off equestrian chic, with one racegoer photographed wandering around the course bare-foot before the first race had even begun.

Others appeared to have indulged in a bit too much champagne while having lunch and were pictured tottering around the course looking a little worse for wear.

Looking good: A pair of racegoers make the most of summer's print trend (left) while another pulls off a casually elegant all-white ensemble livened up with red wedges



Jolly: A pair of racegoers sporting matching pink dresses seem to be having fun Romantic: A prettily dressed racegoer plumps for an ethereal gown complete with sparkles Filly in floral: A racegoer opts for a pretty frock festooned with summery blooms

And they're off! Smartly dressed racegoers sporting a selection of fabulous hats arrive for the first day's racing at Aintree where the Grand National will take place

High heels and hemlines are the order of the day for these young racing enthusiasts (left) while colourful fuchsia accessories add interest to a black dress (right)



Grecian: A racegoer sporting an elaborate up-do and glamorous Grecian gown Good times! A racegoer makes a peace sign to photographers as she enjoys the day Sky high: Aintree racegoers have a penchant for skyscraper heels - whatever the weather Did you get a winner? A thrilled racegoer celebrates a success on the racecourse with the help of a pint of beer and a nice spot of concrete to sit on Someone's having fun! A racegoer appears to be a little squiffy after indulging in a drink or two while watching the action on the first day at Aintree Big day out: A racegoer in a blue and white frock has a vigorous conversation with friends while another takes the weight off her feet while watching the racing

Indulging: Racegoers enjoyed a drink or two while watching the action on the opening day of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival at Liverpool's Aintree racecourse



Girl's day out: Chic in cobalt blue, turquoise and monochrome, these three racegoers appear to be having a wonderfully stylish day out

High jinks: The colourfully dressed revellers at Aintree appeared to be enjoying the day and many got it spot on in the style stakes



But not everyone let the side down in either the style or sobriety stakes, with many of the 30,000 strong crowd looking glamorous in summer dresses, bare legs and open-toed sandals.

Just as popular were all-white ensembles, summer's ultra-fashionable tribal print trend and glamorous scarlet dresses, although most racegoers seemed to have left their coats at home.



As always, female racegoers cranked up the glamour with plenty of fake tan, voluminous waves and elegantly manicured talons as they went for glory in the style stakes.

Leading the charge was none other than the city's WAG-in-chief, Coleen Rooney, who plumped for a glamorous hot pink number, which she teamed with platform heels by Christian Louboutin and an elegant up-do.

Looking good: A glamorous group of racegoers arrive sporting a selection of chic outfits with one even managing to make this season's pastel trend look good

Ouch! While high heeled platform shoes, a perennial favourite at Aintree, proved popular once more, not everyone could handle the pain of wearing them (right)



Lady in red: A racegoer in an all-scarlet ensemble arrives for the start of the day's racing Monochrome: A glamorous racegoer looks elegant in her black and white ensemble All white! Pale ensembles such as this one proved a hit with female racegoers at Aintree

These blondes are definitely having fun! The ladies of Liverpool flying the fashion flag in classic hues (left) while floor-length dresses also proved popular (right)



Good humoured: A group of racegoers beam as they pose for waiting photographers while another group sashay past in their most glamorous garb



Essential reading? A colourfully dressed woman arrives clutching a copy of the Racing Post

Oh no! The wind appears to have gotten the better of this racegoer's beehive hairstyle Keeping warm: Racegoers wearing coats and tights like this lady are a rare sight at Aintree

Summer black: While the majority of racegoers plumped for colourful ensembles, some opted for summer's all-black trend instead



Bright: A racegoer sporting a bright lime-green dress and boxy black jacket and matching hat gives photographers a twirl as she makes her way into the racecourse

Dressed for the weather! A racegoer shelters under a polka dot umbrella while another stays cosy in a bright pink scarf and furry white coat



Joining Mrs Rooney on the opening day of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival was Princess Anne, who looked elegant in black suede knee-high boots and a chic purple coat. After inspecting the racecourse, the Princess Royal was later pictured shaking hands with the jockeys who, with their mounts, will brave the infamous Becher's Brook during Saturday's Grand National.

While Princess Anne was elegant, one racegoer who had dressed for the weather was presenter Claire Balding, who sported a typically practical sheepskin jacket and neat black slacks while covering the day's action for Channel 4.

On the course, racing kicked off with the Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, which saw Paul Carberry on Guitar Pete see off a challenge from Davy Russell and Clarcam to take the £100,000 prize money. Other highlights include the Red Rum Handicap Chase at 4.15pm, the Crabbies Fox Hunter's Chase at 3.40pm and the last race of the day, the Dominican Republic Handicap Hurdle. Hurrah! A lady dressed in a pretty peach ensemble cheers as her horse gallops to victory on the first day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree Oops: While one racegoer manages to remain glamorous while clutching her pint (left) another appears to have overdone it a little bit (right)

Beige beauty: A lady strolls alongside the course at Aintree in a floor-length beige frock Cheerful: A lady attending the Aintree race meeting sports a jolly yellow and blue ensemble Belle in blue: A lady opts for a pretty cornflower blue ensemble for her day out at Aintree Enjoying the day: A sensible group of racegoers prove that you don't need to get drunk to have fun as they giggle while quaffing from plastic cups of orange juice Brrrrrrrr! A lady clad in a crimson frock appears not to feel the cold - despite having bare legs Tribal: This lady clearly got the memo about exotic prints getting the catwalk seal of approval Pink lady: A glamorous racegoer teams her tiered black frock with a bright pink fascinator and heels Did you forget your coat? A pair of glamorous racegoers seem to be feeling the cold as they arrive for the first day's racing at Aintree Pretty in pastel hues: Delicate lilac and blush shades also proved enormously popular with racegoers, as did vibrant shades and strappy heels

Ready for action: A group of racegoers arriving at Aintree are glamorous in colourful lace dresses and an equally cheerful selection of straw fascinators Pretty: Many racegoers opted for delicate floor-length frocks like the one worn by this lady Flower power: Bold blooms proved a popular choice in the print stakes at Aintree Daring: One extremely hardy racegoer chose a floor-length backless dress, despite the chilly weather MEET THE FILLIES IN FLASHY FROCKS AND FAKE TAN: STYLE SECRETS OF THE AINTREE CROWD REVEALED

While Cheltenham is famous for pearls and fur, and Royal Ascot for its hats, Aintree has become synonymous with fashionable girls out to have fun in the highest heels they can find. Eschewing cosy coats and tights in favour of goose-pimpled bare legs and delicate frocks, Aintree girls are almost as famous for their ability to withstand the cold as they are for their colouful approach to style.

As with the Cheltenham Festival, organisers refuse to impose a dress code on guests and, beyond exhortations to dress smartly and avoid anything that might offend, say anything goes. But perhaps a warning isn't required: Liverpudlians are famous for their glamorous approach to getting dressed and love nothing more than the chance to strut their stuff in the most eye-catching outfits they can find. And more is definitely more when it comes to make-up and grooming too, with glossy long locks, honey-toned skin and lashings of lipgloss among the most popular beauty choices. Male racegoers aren't immune from the pull of equestrian glamour either, with the majority plumping for dapper suits or a blazer, although some decide to up the ante with a spot of fancy dress. Despite the presence of the infamous Becher's Brook on the course, the colourfully dressed Aintree crowd are enough to ensure that as many people watch the Grand National for the fashion as they do for the race itself.

Glamorous: Coleen Rooney teamed her bright pink fitted frock with a pair of eye-wateringly high Christian Louboutin platforms for her trip to Aintree

Having fun: Coleen appeared to be enjoying the action as she watched from a box where she was joined by a group of equally colourfully dressed friends Practical: Channel 4 racing presenter Claire Balding sported a practical sheepskin jacket while Princess Anne chose to wear an elegant purple coat



Royal seal of approval: The Princess Royal met jockeys ahead of the first race of the day, the Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Rainy day: Racegoers take shelter under their umbrellas as the heavens open at Aintree. The inclement weather did not, however, manage to spoil the racing Ouch! One racegoer discovers her patent leather shoes were a little too high and swaps them for a perch atop a copy of the Racing Post Riding to victory: Silviniaco Conti, the bay horse on the right, leaps into action and into the lead to triumph in the Betfred Bowl Chase and £160,000 in prize money Winning: Jockey Noel Fehily beams as he and chestnut gelding Silvniaco Conti wander into the winner's enclosure after triumphing in the Betfred Bowl Chase Triumph: Paul Carberry on Guitar Pete sees off a challenge from Davy Russell and Clarcam to win the Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

Ready for action: A worker cuts the grass at Aintree as the racecourse gears up for the Crabbie's Grand National Festival which opens today