Grand National returns to Aintree
Tens of thousands of people will attend over the next three days
One of the biggest events in the Merseyside sporting calendar is back - with tens of thousands of people heading to Aintree over the next three days.
The Grand National Festival runs from Thursday 9 April to Saturday 11 April, attracting more than 150,000 people to the racecourse, for an event which will be watched by an international television audience of around 800 million people.
The gates open from 11am today, with seven races taking place on each the Opening Day, Ladies Day and the Grand National Day.
Travel
Racegoers are being urged to plan ahead travel-wise - extra rail and bus services have ben put on to help make journeys as smooth as possible.
This is also the fist year that festival-goers can use Tap & Go across the MerseyRail network.
A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson said:
"The Grand National Festival is always one of the biggest events in our calendar, attracting visitors from across the world, and we want everyone to travel with confidence to make sure they don't miss starter's orders.
"With extra staff, enhanced services and the new Tap & Go system now available, it’s never been easier for people to get to Aintree safely and conveniently.
"We encourage everyone to plan ahead, leave plenty of time and enjoy their day. By following our advice, you'll be getting your day off to a winning start before the first race is even underway."
There'll will be trains every seven-and-a-half minutes between Liverpool City Centre and Aintree stations before and after the races.
There will be reduced services to some stations on the Ormskisk branch of the Northern Line and the Southport branch of the Northern Line as a result - and on the Headbolt Lane branch of the Northern Line, a reduced 30-minute service will operate all-day across the three days.
A regular shuttle bus service will run from Liverpool city centre to the racecourse.
Those who travel by car are advised to car share where possible, or to get a friend ot relative to drop them within a walkable distance.
There is an extensive 'No Waiting' area around the course and enforcement will be in place.
Temporary Flight Restriction
A temporary flight restriction zone, specifically affecting drones, will be imposed above Aintree as part of the policing operation.
The restriction will be in place between 7am today and 7pm on Saturday, meaning it will be an offence for any unmanned aircraft to fly below 2,000 ft above sea level in the designated area (below), without the explicit permission of Merseyside Police.
Any drone users who fly inside the restricted airspace, that haven't been granted permission, could be prosecuted and have their equipment seized and confiscated.
Inspector Carl McNulty said:
"This is a standard measure that has been in place in previous years for the event.
"Specialist resources, made up of Merseyside Police officers and officers from regional and national teams, including air support, will be in place for the duration of the event and we are also working with partners including the local authority, other emergency services, and businesses in the community to ensure this is a safe and secure event."
Police operation
Racegoers are being told to expect a series of security checks including bag searches and badge checks.
Only pre-booked vehicles will be allowed onto the site and there are parking restrictions around the course.
Chief Inspector Kevin Chatterton said:
"As with every year, we are expecting many visitors to the region to enjoy this festival of racing, which is a prime opportunity to showcase many of the great things Merseyside has to offer.
“As with all big events, we carry out extensive planning alongside all partner organisations in the run up, to ensure everyone who attends the races has a great time, stays safe, and it is memorable for all the right reasons.
“Racegoers and other visitors can help us and the racecourse staff by giving themselves extra time to get to the course and limiting the number of bags and other items they bring along. Everyone should expect to undergo the normal security checks. I’d like to thank people in advance for their patience and cooperation in these essential checks. Your safety is our priority.
“There are plans in place to deal with any incidents that may arise and to prevent any significant or ongoing disruption to spectators, local residents and businesses.
“Anti-social behaviour, hate crime, disorder and other criminal activity will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly. If you see someone acting suspiciously or committing a crime, then please speak to an officer on patrol or contact us directly.
"I would also ask visitors to consider residents who live near the racecourse and treat the area with respect.
“There will be a highly visible and increased police presence in and around the area of the racecourse, but the public should not be alarmed by this. We will also use less visible security measures including plain-clothes officers and live-monitored CCTV – all to help us ensure a safe and enjoyable event."