Racegoers have battled the elements for an “emotional” return to the Grand National festival for the first time since 2019.
But the crowds had a job keeping hold of their hats and fascinators as they fought sub-zero temperatures and galeforce winds.
Some 150,000 racegoers are expected to attend the three-day festival, after the previous two years were cancelled for spectators, due to Covid-19.
Among them on Thursday were 10,000 ' NHS Heroes’ who were gifted tickets by the Jockey Club to thank them for their life-saving efforts on the frontline, throughout the pandemic.
Bride-to-be, Rebecca Hall, 29, had come with her hen party of 26 friends, to celebrate freedom before her big day in June.
In a glitzy captain hat and white mini dress, the farmer from Overwire, Lancs, said: “The weather doesn’t bother me, I’m used to it, but the girls have coped well and no one has lost their fascinator.
“We’ve been planning this trip for six months, we weren’t sure if it would go ahead when we first started planning it because we were still under lockdown restrictions.
“But we took a gamble and we’ve had a great day. It's emotional to come back and see everyone having a drink and a laugh and enjoy themselves again. We’re free!”
Her Royal Highness Anne, 71, the Princess Royal, also braved the storm to unveil a life-size statue of former RAF Pilot and champion jockey, Dick Francis, outside the Aintree weighing room.
Football royalty was among the crowds too, as Sir Alex Ferguson watched Clans des Obeaux, one of his four horses, take a trophy just hours into the first day of racing
Scousers cheered on the Manchester United legend for the first time in his career as he posed for selfies.
Former England manager Harry Redknapp also had a horse, Shakem Uparry, who came third in the penultimate race of the day but the Londoner was not in attendance.
Tomorrow 40,000 fans are expected to tip up at the track for the second biggest day of the festival; Ladies' Day, when the stands become awash with the most glamourous, colourful and daring outfits.
But ladies could well dominate the whole weekend.
Last year's winning jockey, Rachael Blackmore, is determined to tear up the history books for a second year running.
In 2021 she became the first ever female jockey to win the Grand National on Minella Times but with no fans in the stands, it was a silent victory.
Last month she took home the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham races on A Plus Tard.
If she wins again she will become the first woman to take the trophy consecutively and the first female jockey to win two major races in the same year.
“The crowds bring the atmosphere and that's what horse racing is all about.
“I don't know if last year I could have felt any better with the day I had but it's great to have them back,” she told BBC radio 4's Today programme on Thursday morning.
But Blackmore isn't the only female favourite in the main race.
Grey favourite, Snow Leopardess is also rewriting race history as she becomes the first ‘mum’ to run in the National.
Historically horses with foals don’t take part as they are thought to be incapable of performing.
