While horse racing is very much loved by everyone, few days celebrate its female fans more than Ladies Day at the Aintree Grand National Festival.
Ladies Day is a dazzling spectacle that brings racing and high fashion together with a touch of glamour.
A cherished tradition on the British sporting and social calendar, it is a day when women from all walks of life come together to showcase their style, sophistication, and love for the sport.
As the horses thunder down the iconic Aintree course, the stands pop with colour, elegance, and excitement.
But there’s more to Ladies Day then just nice hats and heels. It’s also a fantastic day for racing and 2025 will be no exception.
When Is Ladies Day?
Ladies Day is traditionally held on the second day of the three-day Festival. So, in other words, it is always on Friday.
For 2025, the event will take place on Friday, April 4th 2025.
Style Awards
You can’t have Ladies Day without highlighting some of the impressive outfits on display.
With that in mind, the pinnacle of the day is the Style Awards which puts the spotlight on the best dressed of the day.
For 2025, the iconic British high-street retailer River Island is back as an Official Style Partner.
There are two categories this year, each with it’s own set of prizes.
First up is Best Dressed where the two best dressed racegoers will each receive:
- £3,000 River Island voucher
- 2 x Garden Club tickets to Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival 2026
- A Randox Health full body Everyman or Everywoman package
- Plus additional River Island gifts worth £1,000
Second is the Most Sustainably Dressed which is a recent addition. The winner will win:
- £1,000 River Island voucher
- 2 x Garden Club tickets to Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival 2026
- Hospitality for two at an Aintree Racecourse fixture of choice in 2025
- Plus additional River Island gifts worth £1,000
In 2024 the winning outfits went to Claire Illingworth, Ainsley Briscoe and Sally Ann Morgan.
Betting On Ladies Day 2025
With the 2025 Aintree Festival just around the corner, there are plenty of markets available for the racing on Ladies’s Day.
That said, not all of them are available as most are run like normal races with entries only a week or so before hand.
With Cheltenham now out of the way, plenty of trainers will be deciding whether or not to run their horses at Aintree.
So, as soon as the entries are out, we recommend that you do a bit of leg work and check out the UK’s horse racing results to get an idea of which horses and trainers are on form.
If they do well over the coming season, they could be heading to Aintree next April and you’ll know who to back.
Aintree Festival Day 2 Racing Schedule
While the fashion on display certainly elevates the second day’s racing at the Festival, there’s no disputing that the vast majority of racegoers are there for the racing.
With seven races on the card, the first of the day gets underway at 1.45pm. The jewels in the crown on the day are undoubtedly the Melling Chase and the Topham Chase.
Both races attract the best runners in the country with prize to match.
Melling Chase
The Melling Chase is run over a distance of 2m4f with sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is after Melling, a nearby village and was established in 1991.
It has always been a Grade 1 race with famous winners, including Fakir D’oudairies, Sprinter Sacre, Voy Por Ustedes and Moscow Flyer.
If it’s the best chasers in the country you want to see then the Melling Chase is where you’ll find them.
Runners often come to Aintree for this race following a trip to the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
And with £250,000 up for grabs, who can blame them!
Topham Chase
While not a Grade 1, the Topham Chase is still seen as a very prestigious race and is run over a distance of 2m5f.
One of the oldest races in the country, the Topham has been going since 1949 and is now one of three races run over the famous Grand National fences.
Many trainers and owners use this race to determine how their horses fair against the tricky fences, often with one eye on the following year’s National.
Famous winners include Always Waining who won this race in three consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012) the only horse to have ever done so.
For the full racing schedule for Ladies Day 2025, just check out the details below.
| Time | Race Name | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:45pm | Mildmay Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) Grade 1 | 3m 1f | |
| 2:20pm | The Handicap Hurdle (Class 1) Grade 3 | 2m 4f | |
| 2:55pm | The Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1) Grade 1 | 2m ½f | |
| 3:30pm | The Melling Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | |
| 4:05pm | The Topham Chase (Grade 3) | 2m 5f | |
| 4:40pm | The Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1) Grade 1 | 3m ½f | |
| 5:15pm | The Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (Conditional & Amateur Jockeys) | 2m ½f |
Conclusion
Ladies Day at the Aintree Festival is a thrilling blend of horse racing excitement and high-fashion glamour.
It’s a day where the thundering hooves on the course meet the elegance of vibrant dresses and stylish hats in the stands.
Whether you’re a racing enthusiast, a fashion lover, or simply looking for a fantastic day out, Ladies Day at Aintree is an event that offers something for everyone.
It’s a celebration of both sport and style, making it an unforgettable day on the social and sporting calendar.
