Grand National worst-dressed celebs as the festival kicks off today

It's home to the world's greatest steeplechase - but the Grand National festival - which starts today - is now as big a draw for its fashion as the horse racing itself.

Known for ostentatious hats, vibrant dresses and thigh-skimming outfits, each year revellers dress to the nines as they parade down the Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, for the three-day event.

Glamorous racegoers even often include celebrities like British actress Helen Flanagan, WAG Coleen Rooney and TV personality Georgia Toffolo.

But despite being rich and famous, some stars still miss the mark when it comes to their race day style - and have ended up turning heads for all the wrong reasons.

Fashion faux pas from previous years include Love Island's Gabby Allen's off-the-shoulder cream dress adorned with ruffles which she wore in 2018.

Whilst the frock itself was stylish enough, the accessories were a stark contrast, with the content creator teaming the number with barely-there black heels and a matching hat, featuring a bright, in-your-face orange bow.

A celebrity who went for equally eye-catching colours for her outfit that year was Helen Skelton, who donned a vibrant pink suit, teamed with a lace black top.

Similarly, in 2015, Coleen, who is a regular fixture at the races as a Liverpool native, commanded attention in a very bright orange lace mini dress, featuring cape detailing.

But it's not only harsh, vibrant shades that often fail to impress - other famous faces have previously relied on wearing daring ensembles for the races.

In 2024, internet personality Chanelle McCleary put on a very busty display as she left little to the imagination in a plunging black halterneck dress.

The year before, Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter put on a very leggy display in a sheer ruffled mini dress.

She swept a contrasting olive jacket with waterfall sleeves across her shoulders and gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of white pointed heels.

Jorgie, who plays Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera, kept her essentials in a black handbag with a gold chain strap.

She styled her golden tresses loosely across her shoulders in a straight fashion and accessorised her look with a silver necklace. The bombshell accentuated her natural beauty with a glamorous make-up palette.

Elsewhere, Sarah Jayne Dunn, who kickstarted an OnlyFans career after leaving Hollyoaks, proudly flaunted her incredible pins in a dramatic pink frilled dress as she made a glamorous arrival for Ladies Day at Aintree in 2023.

The former soap star turned heads in her eye-catching dress with an enormous bow embellishment as she headed to the races a day ahead of the much-anticipated Grand National race.

Sarah showed off her gym-toned physique in her plunging pink dress with an oversized bow, flowing into a pink frilled tulle skirt.

She accessorised her look with black platform heels and a matching clutch bag as she arrived for another day of racing action.

Ahead of the big race on Saturday, I Am Maximus heads the maximum field of 34 declared runners as he attempts to emulate Red Rum in Saturday’s Randox Grand National.

No horse since Ginger McCain’s Aintree legend has won the world’s most famous steeplechase, lost the title and then regained it. Red Rum won in 1973 and 1974 and was second in 1975 and 1976 before bringing the house down with a third victory in 1977.

Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus – who will be sporting cheekpieces for just the second time, the first being back in December 2022 – won two years ago in the hands of Paul Townend and found only stablemate Nick Rockett too good in 2025 when aiming to be the first dual winner since Tiger Roll.

There were no withdrawals at the 72-hour declaration stage, although Jimmy Mangan’s Spillane’s Tower is also declared to run in Thursday’s Racing Welfare Bowl Chase. Should that be the case, Pied Piper, who is the first of six reserves, would be number 34 and line up as a sixth runner in the race for Gordon Elliott.

In the event of a non-runner, the deadline for reserves to make the final field is 1pm on Friday.