Crowds cheer on as Grand National winner crosses the lineBy Eleanor Barlow, Press AssociationCrowds of racegoers cheered on at Aintree as the Grand National winner crossed the finish line. Among those enjoying the races were Coleen Rooney, wearing a pale yellow Roland Mouret dress, and her husband Wayne. Animal rights organisations had called for this year’s festival to be boycotted as two horses died on Friday and Saturday. Gold Dancer died after winning the second race on Ladies Day and Get On George sustained a fatal injury in Saturday’s William Hill Handicap Hurdle. A racegoer holds an umbrella which is inside out on Grand National Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse (Mike Egerton/PA) Photo by Mike EgertonBut racegoers did not appear to be deterred and Friday saw more than 53,000 people on the course, the biggest crowd for Ladies Day since 2012.

Source: Irish Independent April 11, 2026 18:57 UTC