Granada Horse Racing

Stylish racegoers accessorised with umbrellas as the rain failed to dampen spirits at Aintree's Ladies Day.

Punters vowed not to let the wet weather ruin the event as they gathered for the second day of the famous race meet in Merseyside.

Sophie Gatliff, 27, who came up from London with friend Lydia Unwin, 24, for the racing said: "Once we have a glass of champagne we'll be fine!"

Ms Unwin said the weather was disappointing but added: "We're going to get over that, I'm sure."

The pair both wore bright colours, with Ms Unwin in a green dress with fascinator and Ms Gatliff wearing a wide-legged jumpsuit with yellow pattern.

Ms Unwin said: "I think it's a really fun day just to dress up, and you know you can wear things a little bit more extravagant, that you wouldn't otherwise get to wear, so I just went for colour."

Carole Cooper, 59, from Wigan wore an emerald green dress which she had made herself.

She said: "It's my favourite colour and I know green is in this year."

She added: "We're not going to let the rain put us off."

Her husband Jim, 61, said: "It's always fabulous - Ladies Day, Aintree, the whole meeting - it's just brilliant."

Other trends on the racecourse included neutral shades and floral patterns, with some female racegoers favouring trousers over the traditional dresses.

Charlotte Wilson, 24, from Burnley said she had gone for "neutral glam" in a beige off-the-shoulder dress and fascinator, while friend Maddie Stevenson, 20, went for a "red classic dress"

Granada Reports spend the day with staff at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables in Cheshire as they prepare one of their 120 horses for a race at Haydock Park.

Prizes worth £26,000 are up for grabs at Aintree for the best dressed race-goer on Ladies' Day. Judges, including Liverpool 'X Factor' star Rebecca Ferguson, will adjudicate on the Style Awards. The winner will be given a Mini Cooper Roadster.

Organisers say they want to attract as many entries as possible. They have removed the requirement for contestants to register. Instead, giant frames will be placed around the course, with entrants invited to step into them to have their photos taken. Stylists will be on hand beside each frame to help ensure contestants are looking their best.

Ladies' Day will kick off with a new event, The Grand Women Summit. Over 120 delegates will meet to discuss women in business, racing and sport. Delegates will also be given a walk of the course, led by Irish Grand National winning jockey, Katie Walsh.

Aintree Racecourse has denied that photographers taking unflattering photos at Ladies' Day will be banned from the course. But they say they are asking the press to act responsibly and "respect the dignity" of people attending the event.

The major racing event of the festival, the Grand National, will take place on Saturday afternoon. Champion jockey A P McCoy is due to ride the favourite, Shutthefrontdoor, in his last Grand National before he retires.

Caroline Whitmore's been at Ladies' Day at Aintree.

She found some racey outfits and some punters who hadn't a clue where the racecourse was!