Grand National Ladies Day: All you need to know about Friday's racing at Aintree

One of the highlights of the three-day Grand National meeting at Aintree is Ladies Day, and this year's event takes place on Friday 8th April, and it's set to be a cracking day on and off the track. As the ladies dress up for the occasion and enjoy have a glass of bubbly and a few bets across the afternoon, we try to provide you with more information on the action taking place on the track...

The seven-race card will get under way at 13:45 with a handicap hurdle, which will see 22 runners going to post, while the first Grade 1 race of the day will take centre stage at 14:20. Runner-up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Jonbon will be a red-hot favourite for the Top Novices' Hurdle, with the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo looking the main danger on paper.

Swiftly moving on to more Grade 1 action at 14:55 and it's arguably the best race of the day as a select quartet do battle in the Mildmay Novices' Chase. Impressive Brown Advisory Novices' Chase hero from Cheltenham L'Homme Presse will bid to do the Cheltenham/Aintree double, but he will face a huge rival in the shape of Bravemansgame, who was pulled out of Cheltenham at the 11th hour. Ahoy Senor and Fury Road complete a mouth-watering contest in the third race of the day.

Joseph O'Brien's Fakir D'Oudairies will attempt to retain his Grade 1 Melling Chase crown at 15:30, and the Irish raider is sure to be a warm order with bookmakers, while at 16:05 you will get the chance to see the legendary National fences come into action, as the Topham Handicap Chase provides the real punting headscratcher. Second at Cheltenham last month, Nicky Henderson's Mister Coffey will attempt to go one better here, but there will be a whole plethora of challengers to the Seven Barrows inmate, and it's set to be a magnificent spectacle.

The remaining two races continue to offer huge quality and the penultimate race at 16:40 is the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle, and fresh from winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, Banbridge will be the one to beat here, while the finale is an amateur jockeys handicap hurdle, which sees a bumper field of 17 horses going to post at 17:15.

CHECK OUT OUR TIPS FOR LADIES DAY AT AINTREE HERE

Ladies Day Race Schedule - Friday 8th April

• 13:45 Aintree - 20 Years Together, Alder Hey & Aintree Handicap Hurdle
• 14:20 Aintree - Betway Top Novices' Hurdle
• 14:55 Aintree - Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase
• 15:30 Aintree - Marsh Chase (Melling Chase)
• 16:05 Aintree - Randox Topham Handicap Chase
• 16:40 Aintree - Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices' Hurdle
• 17:15 Aintree - Park Palace Ponies Handicap Hurdle