26.02.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

£35,000 prize up for grabs for the most stylish racegoer at John Smith's Grand National meeting

The most stylish racegoer at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting is set to take home over £35,000 worth of luxury goodies. The ultimate style competition, Style 2008 will take place at Aintree Racecourse during the John Smith’s Grand National meeting (April 3rd – 5th) and this year will award what’s believed to be one of the biggest style prize ever presented to a racegoer in the UK.

This year’s winner will take home a complete A-List lifestyle, including a Citroën C-Crosser 2.2hdi Exclusive, a 10-day Almond Resorts Caribbean holiday for two, a new wardrobe for the season, fashion make-over and range of fabulous home goods from Littlewoods Direct, and a goody bag stuffed with exclusive gifts from Cricket and Microzine, a year membership at Total Fitness Health Club and a complimentary £500 totesport bet on the John Smith’s Grand National.

Style Icon, Coleen McLoughlin will present the prize to the winner of Style 2008 on John Smith’s Grand National day. Speaking ahead of the 2008 event, Coleen McLoughlin said: “I've been involved with the Style Contest at the John Smith's Grand National for a couple of years now and just love it. Everyone who goes to Aintree for the three-day meeting makes a real effort to look as glam as possible and I think that's brilliant - it really adds to the atmosphere of what is already a fantastic event.”

“This year's going to be particularly special because it’s Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, so lots of people are travelling to the city to make a weekend break of it - I can't wait!”

Aintree’s Marketing Manager, Emma Owen said: “To mark the John Smith’s Grand National in what is a special year for the city we wanted to host an unmissable contest, with a prize that is bigger and better than ever before. We can’t wait to see what the look of the event will be.”

The contest is free to enter to both guys and girls attending the meeting on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th, with the most stylish racegoer prize being presented on John Smith’s Grand National Day, Saturday 5th. From today, contestants can pre-register their entry at www.aintree.co.uk/style2008. By fast-tracking their entry in this way, racegoers will be able to join the catwalk on Friday 4th, without queuing on the day. Pre-registered entrants will also be entered into a prize draw to win 2 tickets for the star-studded Official Winner’s Party at exclusive Liverpool bar, Alma de Cuba, on Grand National night.

A change to the format in 2008 will see Aintree’s style spotters’ scout the crowd on Thursday 3rd, selecting the most stylish racegoers and entering them by photographic entry into Friday’s contest. Alternatively, racegoers can visit the Style Enclosure at the Red Rum Garden between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Friday 4th to take part in the catwalk show. All finalists will be invited back on John Smith’s Grand National day (Saturday 5th April) for a VIP day out and the announcement of the style king or queen!

The John Smith’s Grand National is one of the biggest sporting and social events in the UK. An estimated 150,000 people attend the three day event each year and it is one of the most-televised sporting events in the world, with an estimated audience of 600million.

The opening day of the race meeting is on Thursday 3rd April, when thousands of visitors arrive at Aintree to soak up the celebratory atmosphere as three days of world-class racing are launched. Ladies Day on Friday 4th April is famously the most glamorous of the race days and for the last few years has officially been the fastest-selling day of the meeting. The world-famous John Smith’s Grand National itself is run on Saturday 5th April delivering excitement and anticipation in abundance.

For more information please visit www.visitliverpool.com/grandnational or call the Ticket Line 0151 522 2929 or Accommodation Booking Line 0844 870 0123. For more information on the Style Contest visit www.aintree.co.uk/style2008