Grand National betting finds itself on the back hooves this Friday as Ladies Day lays siege to the Aintree home of the world’s most famous steeplechase meet that takes place a day later. Horses, jockeys, trainers and owners are of only a fleeting interest to the race-going/champagne-quaffing punters who converge on the Aintree course for Ladies Day, the Friday of the Grand National meeting, as the fashion stakes replace the betting stakes at the top of the agenda and public’s conscience. Grabbing as much front page column inches as the big race itself does barely a day later, the habitual Grand National betting melee takes a respite for the day as the famous course is invaded by all that’s bright and beautiful, and creatures great and small.

To a man who’s known to have been around the town, there’s no finer sight on a Friday night out in Liverpool than its infamous painted ladies strutting their stuff and generally revelling in one occasion or another. But this Friday and the celebration will be a 24 hour event that will in part be broadcast live across our TV-adled nation as the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National flings open its doors for its traditional Ladies Day spectacle. And what a spectacle it will be.

Descending on the historic Haydock racecourse in Aintree in their droves will be a gaggle of womenfolk sporting a dazzling array of extrovert plumage as far as the eye can see. And that’s extrovert prior to the champagne corks being popped and the day’s racing events getting under way. As you’re probably aware proudly scouse girls (un) naturally stand out from a crowd at the best of times, courtesy of their colourful markings that rely heavily on a readily available product that blurts out of a spray can that they never let out of their sight.

Predominantly orange in hue and saturation, their visage is offset on Ladies Day by what can best be described as flamboyant outfits that leave little to the imagination. Not simply in terms of an often distinct lack of material being utilised but the brave colours that the wearers somehow seem to think compliment one another.

Copiously-proportioned headgear - be it an easily - mistaken novelty hat or preposterous be-decked fascinator - are par for the course too and are donned primarily to up the ante in the fashion stakes as ladies attempt to out-do one another.

Billed as the North West social event of the year, the ironically-named Ladies Day is the one time that Liverpool’s occasionally style-bereft ladies of leisure can throw even more/less fashion caution to the wind and re-enact the Mad Hatters Tea Party. Fancy dress aside, Ladies Day at Aintree is almost viewed as the unofficial Scouse Bank Holiday, and brings about a mixed response from the traditionally more mute-attired race-goers in the 50,000 strong crowd gathered at Haydock. In essence the same sort of ladies outing as witnessed at its marginally grander summer equivalent at Royal Ascot, the Friday tradition is greeted with looks ranging from the curious to the downright perplexed.

Still, all the local glitterati and celebs are out in force, and for every Victoria Beckham there’s a host of Chanelle Hayes’ biding for their moment in the Liverpool Echo flashbulb. Of course, in reality Posh Spice as far as I know hasn’t blessed the annual WAG parade with her fashionable presence, instead leaving the footballers wives representation to be addressed by the slightly less A-list posturing likes of Coleen McLoughlin/Rooney and Alex Curran, who still amass their own wannabees to boot.

Quick to seize on the endless marketing possibilities provided by such a clientele turning up and out for the day’s races, Aintree now stages a ‘Looking Good’ fashion contest, with a first prize of a luxury car for the lady deemed the most, well, fashionable I guess. Over 700 entries are usually received for this side show, with those putting themselves forward ranging from the usual perma-tanned suspects to the occasional men dressed as women adding a little cheeky humour that is never a million miles away in these parts.

Once the day’s racing activities draw to a close, the partying hard female contingent normally head back down to the city centre and its myriad of hospitably drinking venues to continue the atmosphere long into the night with all the razzamatazz that only Liverpool can generate.

Stella Stevens is a writer and correspondent for Free Betting Online. Grand National Betting Tips and Special Offers.