Racegoers have showed off their Grand style as they get dressed up ahead of the National at Aintree in horse racing's biggest event of the year. 

Revellers have put their best fashion foot forward for the final day of the annual festival which will see the world's best jockeys go head to head. 

Guests have arrived at the Merseyside racecourse in a flurry of precarious heels, statement hats and dramatic dresses. 

Arrivals at the meet ahead of the big race at 4pm have set the sartorial bar high, putting on a glamorous display in colourful fascinators and fabulous frocks. 

More than 150,000 spectators have descended on the races over the course of the three-day event, which has built up to the showpiece steeplechase on Saturday. 

Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, the festival takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come 'dressed to feel your best'.

And while Cheltenham is all about the tweed country looks, Aintree sees more of an array of different outfits on display. 

Racegoers have gone all out in figure-hugging dresses, enormous hats and sunnies as they enjoy one of the biggest dates in the racing calendar. 

Former England footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen Rooney were among the revellers. 

The couple put on a loved-up display, cuddling and beaming in the grandstands as they watched the meet unfold. 

They were fortunately sheltered from the weather, which took a turn for the worse in the afternoon, getting gradually wetter and windier.

Racegoers were spotted struggling with disposable ponchos and umbrellas as they did their best to enjoy the day, despite the encroaching cold. 

Attendees lifted handbags aloft and threw jackets over their heads to shield their carefully chosen outfits from the adverse conditions. 

The sun was shining as punters arrived on Saturday morning, with the day ahead looking promisingly warm. 

But heavy rain and hailstones saw people seeking shelter as the third race of the day got under way just before 2pm. 

John Hallihan, 69, from Cork, south-west Ireland, wore a green suit with lucky shamrocks for the occasion, which he has been attending for 20 years.

He said: 'It's very special. It's famous all over the world. The fences aren't as daunting as they were, which is good for the animals and for everybody.

'Everyone is in good form, everyone is friendly, the sun is shining.'

Wesley Jones, 44, from Crosby, Merseyside, who was with his wife Becky, 39, said: 'It brings a lot of people from all over the world in to see this and we live here.

'We get this on our doorstep so we've got to count ourselves lucky.'

Oliver Henney, 22, had travelled with more than 20 friends from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on Saturday.

He said: 'It's the best party in the world. Hopefully the sun stays out and we'll have a good day.'

Fashion designer Melissa-Kate Newitt, 27, from Birkenhead, Wirral, said: 'I think it's probably the best event in the country for fashion.

'Everyone comes to see what the girls are wearing. It is peak British fashion, I'd say.'

She was planning to put her money on Monty's Star in memory of her late cat. She said: 'I usually bet on one with a pink jacket but this year we're going with the name.'

Ms Newitt added: 'If I get drunk and I'm cold I'm going to be miserable and I'm not going to want to do anything so I've brought my coat for safety.'

Spectators also include youngsters at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, as the steeplechase will be shown in the MediCinema on site for the first time.

The screen has been set up for patient Oliver Christie, five, who underwent his fifth open heart surgery last month.

Aintree Racecourse in Sefton, Merseyside, has hosted the historic Grand National Festival since 1839. 

This year's event, which opened on Thursday, has attracted revellers across the country who have taken the opportunity to dress up to the nines. 

Ladies' Day, which took place on the second day of races on Friday, is all about the fashion, alongside the meet, with the Style Awards for the best-dressed attendees. 

It came after Opening Day on Thursday, which is considered the day for true racing aficionados - and is often when new jockey talent emerges.  

Thousands of people are packing the grandstands on Saturday ahead of the iconic final contest, which is broadcast to up to 600million people around the world.

Gates opened at 10am to allow attendees to settle in ahead of the legendary steeplechase in the afternoon. 

Though spectators are enjoying a full programme of racing during the daytime, all eyes are on the namesake Grand National event. 

The electrifying race will see a field of 34 runners take on what is widely considered one of the biggest dates in the international horseracing calendar. 

The riders will take on 30 fences as part of the main event, which will near on close out the festival, before a final flat race at 5pm. 

Little Oliver, at Alder Hey, has been named an honorary 35th runner in the race.  

The current favourite to win the contest is Panic Attack, at odds of seven to one, according to bookmakers Paddy Power. 

But tragically, Saturday saw the second horse death of the three-day festival when Get On George sustained a fatal injury in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. 

Organisers of the event came under fire overnight after another animal death on the course cast a cloud over the second day of the Grand National meeting. 

Gold Dancer, Paul Townend's mount in the William Hill Mildmay Novices Chase, had produced a brilliant round of jumping in the Grade One contest.

But the gelding, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, suddenly sprawled on landing after hitting the last fence.

It looked momentarily as if Townend – the seven-time Irish champion, who is regarded as the best National Hunt rider of his generation – might slip out of the saddle.

But he regained his balance and was able to cajole Gold Dancer for the last furlong to win the race and claim the £67,524 first prize. 

The event soon descended into chaos, however, as it quickly emerged the seven-year-old animal had been severely injured. 

He was quickly attended to by racecourse vets but, on examination, they discovered Gold Dancer had broken his back and the gelding was tragically euthanised.

Outrage and opprobrium rained down on Townend, who has since been cleared of any wrongdoing. 

Animal protection organisation PETA has said the meeting should be called 'The Grand Massacre', noting 68 horses have been fatally injured at Aintree since 2000.

Townend was approached for comment but did not wish to speak after the race. 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) stewards held an enquiry when he returned to the weighing room, as is standard. 

After listening to all evidence, they said no blame could be attached.

The BHA said in a statement: 'We are all saddened by the fatal injury of Gold Dancer and our thoughts are with everybody connected to the horse. 

'After the race, the stewards held an enquiry to consider the circumstances of this incident and took evidence from vets and the horse's jockey.

'Paul Townend told the stewards that, following a bad mistake at the final fence, Gold Dancer took a stride or two to gather himself but felt sound and continued running in a straight line to the finish.

'He then reported that Gold Dancer's action changed after the line, as he rounded the bend and changed from a canter to a trot, at which point he immediately dismounted to allow veterinary surgeons to quickly attend to the horse.

'The veterinary assessment was that the appropriate course of action was to humanely euthanise the horse.'

They added: 'Having reviewed the footage of the incident, James Given, the BHA's Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, agreed that Gold Dancer's action was typical of a horse in the closing stages of such a race, that he appeared sound until rounding the bend.

'As is the case with any fatal injury, the incident will now be looked at in detail through our fatality review process, which is part of the sport's commitment to ongoing improvements in racehorse safety.'

An Aintree Racecourse statement read: 'The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.

'He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.'

The final day of the contest on Saturday has bookies bracing for the 'ultimate sporting bonanza'. 

The Grand National has fallen in the same weekend as the US Masters and Tyson Fury's comeback - and they are all expected to spark a giant betting spree.

Ladbrokes expects a 'perfect storm' as punters gamble on the big race at Aintree, the golf at Augusta and former world heavyweight champion Fury's return against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 'rare trifecta' will 'spark the busiest day of the year for bookies', the firm said.

The industry estimates about £150million will be bet on the Grand National alone.