The talk at Aintree

Racing-mad weatherman John Kettley says: "The temperature is going to be seven degrees and there will be a heavy line of rain. It's going to be awful." But the chances of Liverpool's feisty females dressing sensibly for the annual frenzy of flesh and fake tan that is Ladies' Day tomorrow are slim to non-existent.
For the third year running, hundreds of dressed-to-kill women (and a few brave gents) will hope to win a £23,000 Jaguar, which goes to the most stylish racegoer. BBC radio commentator John Hunt acts as master of ceremonies and asked one scantily-clad lady whether she was feeling the chill a couple of years ago. "Nah," she said. "I've put an extra thong on."

Ginger's barefaced cheek

That Ginger McCain is a card, isn't he. Not content with describing Carrie Ford as "a broodmare" ahead of her gutsy bid to become the first woman to ride a Grand National winner, Aintree's resident curmudgeon has followed up with further dismissive comments about the chances of Forest Gunner landing the world's greatest steeplechase on Saturday. "Carrie's had a nipper and only three or four rides in the last year, and that doesn't give you the fitness to win a National," he says. "I say it as I see it, and if Carrie wins I'll bare my backside to the four winds and everyone can kick it."

Tension mounts for Ford

Carrie Ford is trying to keep a lid on the amount of interviews she conducts as her big day draws near but made an exception yesterday after acting as official starter for the Gran National, a novelty obstacle race dreamed up by Totesport featuring 10 grandmothers ranging from 39 to 64. "The butterflies are starting to creep in, but inwardly I feel fairly calm," she says. "No one can say what will happen on Saturday, but the horse is really well and it has been wonderful to be part of the build-up to such a great race."