WAGs step aside for National fever

The catwalk queens have had their day. Today Aintree reverts to a venerable old battlefield of dreams and punting pin-stickers as experts-for-the-day have an annual flutter on the Grand National.

The world’s most punted race is in its 173rd year, and the magic endures around Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn and, most notoriously, The Chair.

Kate Miller, William Hill spokeswoman, said: “We estimate that if all the betting slips from the National were placed end to end they would stretch from Liverpool to Las Vegas and back.”