04.03.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE, EVENTS

Most Stylish Racegoer to land £35,000 prize at the National

Aintree Racecourse today revealed details of its A-list  £35,000 lifestyle prize, which will be up for grabs for the most stylish racegoer at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting (Thursday 2 – Saturday 4 April).

The ever-popular style contest, Style 2009, will be staged in just over a month’s time at the world- famous Liverpool course.

One lucky racegoer (male or female), attending the opening day of the meeting (Thursday) or Ladies’ Day (Friday) needs only to wow the judges with their raceday style for the chance to be invited back on John Smith’s Grand National day, when Liverpool Style icon Coleen Rooney will crown the 2009 victor.

In what is probably the biggest prize for any style competition staged on any UK racecourse to date, the winner of Style 2009 will walk away with:

A Citroën C-Crosser 2.2HDi Exclusive, worth over £25,000.  Also; A luxury 10-day Almond Resorts Premium all Inclusive Caribbean holiday for two people to Barbados or St Lucia.

Matalan have also teamed up to be official style partner and are offering the lucky winner the opportunity to live the life of a top model.  The winner will star in Matalan's autumn fashion campaign taking part in a photo shoot in a top London studio.  Professional hair and make up artists will be on hand and the winner will be personally styled and directed by international fashion designer, Jeff Banks.  A set of professional photographs will be provided to the winner, along with the outfits modelled.  The winner will then enjoy dinner at The Ivy before falling into bed at a luxury London hotel.

In addition, they will spend a day shopping with Cricket's Personal Shopping team; picking £1,000 worth of goodies.  Other bonuses include subscription to Reveal magazine for a year, plus a £500 totepool bet on the John Smith’s Grand National itself.

Style 2009 will be the 7th year of this eagerly awaited contest which last year saw more than 1,800 entrants take to the catwalk on Ladies’ Day.

Organisers have also announced that pre-registration for Ladies’ Day is now open online at www.aintree.co.uk/style2009 for those wishing to secure a place in the eagerly awaited contest.  Pre-registering will give racegoers the opportunity to be fast-tracked in front of our judges on the day.  Anyone pre-registering online will also be entered into a draw to win five tickets to the official John Smith’s Grand National Winner’s Party, which will take place at Liverpool bar, Alma de Cuba on Grand National night.  Pre-registration for Style 2009 closes on Friday, March 27 and is open to all racegoers attending the race meeting over the age of 18 and a resident of the UK.

On Thursday, eagle-eyed style spotters will be on the lookout for raceday style with entrants’ photographs being presented to judges on Friday with chance to be in the Grand Final itself on Saturday

Five lucky racegoers will be invited back to Aintree as VIPs on John Smith’s Grand National day to find out their fate

Emma Owen, Aintree’s marketing & PR manager, said: “With just over a month to go until the biggest sporting and social event on the North West Calendar, the announcement of Style 2009 is sure to have racegoers searching frantically for that extra special raceday look.  With one of the best prizes we’ve ever had for the contest up for grabs, it really is a reason to have a great day out this year.  It’s going to be very exciting to see what our judges will be on the look out for and I am sure we will have a deserving winner come 2pm on Grand National day.”

Tickets for all three days of the John Smith’s Grand National are still available.  To check availability and make a booking, go to www.aintree.co.uk.  From today, (Monday 2 March), the advance booking office at the racecourse will be open for walk-up ticket purchases.  From as little as £135 per person, raceday hospitality can be enjoyed on the opening day of the meeting.  To make a reservation, telephone 0151 522 2911.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:  Judges for the contest will be announced shortly