Female racing fans encouraged to smarten up for National Festival

Women attending this year’s ladies’ day at the Grand National Festival are being urged to smarten up in a bid to make the day more “aspirational”.

Fashionistas planning on attending the famous Liverpool horse-racing event on April 8 are being encouraged to dress more Ascot than the midriff baring, stiletto-clad look that has become synonymous with the day.

Aintree’s management has told racegoers to “style up” and has even coaxed them into raising standards by offering a £35,000 (€45,300) Range Rover plus £8,000 (€10,000) in shopping vouchers to the most stylish punter.