Ladies Day hats turn heads at Aintree

Racegoers are turning heads in hats which are bigger and better than ever as the “Scouse Met Gala” gets under way at Aintree .

Punters dressed in florals and bright colours for Ladies Day , the second day of the annual racing festival, which culminates with the Grand National steeplechase on Saturday.

Among the expected crowd of 50,000 at the Merseyside racecourse was Zara Tindall, wearing a cream trouser suit with matching hat, who was with her husband Mike Tindall and daughter Mia.

Former England rugby star Tindall said: “They never let you down at Aintree.

That’s what I love about racing – everywhere is just so different.

“You go to flat racing at Epsom, and you look at what Cheltenham is and if the sun’s just breaking through when Aintree comes around … actually, it doesn’t really matter, it could be freezing cold, they pick their outfits and they’re out.

“It’s amazing to see and it’s just a completely different vibe.”
Charlotte Hawes, 32, from Wallasey, Wirral, said her hat, which was black and adorned with an arrangement of red roses, was “heavy” but “secure”.

She said: “Bigger is better I think, you’ve got to go all out haven’t you?

It’s once a year, Ladies Day.

“I love everyone’s style, everyone really makes an effort.

It’s the Scouse Met Gala, as they say.

All the girls of Liverpool are so stylish.”
Milliner Steph Corlett, 38, from Maghull, Merseyside, had been making her burgundy horse-shaped headpiece up until the night before the races and said it had been her busiest year yet for Ladies Day orders.

She said: “The hats have suddenly just become a big thing now, the last few years it’s just got bigger and bigger.

I think since Covid, people make more effort.”
This year’s Style Awards included a new category for best hat, won by 46-year-old Sarah Williams from St Helens wearing a £180 pink, rose gold and glittery headpiece, with butterfly decorations.

She said: “I have forgotten quite a few times how big the hat is.

I’ve bashed it on an umbrella.

But it’s not too bad, it’s kept together with clips.”
Grand National 2026: Full list of runners and horse-by-horse guide
In Pictures: Hat’s the way to do it – colourful show for Aintree Ladies Day
When is Grand National 2026?

Date, latest odds and how to watch
Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean
The best-dressed award was given to Hannah Smith, 29, from Edinburgh, Scotland, who wore a soft pink suit with flower-embellished fitted jacket and chiffon maxi skirt from Dutch fashion company Leyna Dresses, and a Millinery by Mel fascinator.

Some racegoers were still trying to keep costs down while looking their best.

Hannah Mooney, 32, from Widnes, Cheshire, had sourced her tweed and brown outfit, with a camel-coloured trilby, from charity shops and preloved selling app Vinted.

She said: “My aim was to spend as little as possible on an outfit so I could spend more on betting on the horses.”
Her sister Jessica Mooney, 34, who wore a floral long-sleeved dress with a white headband, said: “You don’t see anything like this anywhere else.

“It’s definitely one of the best days of the year.

Everyone puts so much effort in.

The hats and the dresses are just incredible.”
Helen Scott-Allen, 46, from the Isle of Man, opted for vintage, with a 1950s horse-racing themed Paganne dress bought from eBay.

Her hat, which featured a horse and jockey, had been shipped from America.

She said: “It was well-packaged thankfully.

“As soon as this festival finishes I start planning it for next year.”
Her husband, Dave Allen, 44, said his colour co-ordinated outfit was more last-minute.

He said: “I do exactly as I’m told with about five minutes notice – so Helen puts a year’s worth of planning into it and I just do as I’m told on the morning of.”
Leanne Kelly.

41, from Perth, Scotland, wore a huge floral and feathered headpiece to match her off-the-shoulder dress.

She said: ” It’s all about the hat.

I just love a hat.

For me it’s got to be big, it’s got to be bold, it’s got to be something fun.”
On the track, the winner of the second race of the day Gold Dancer died after he pulled up after the line.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said the death reinforced their calls for the public to boycott the event.

She said: “Sadly, Gold Dancer is the latest victim of this heartless spectacle which flies in the face of animal welfare.”