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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Thousands attend Grand National | Thousands attend Grand National |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people flocked to Aintree racecourse amidst unseasonably warm weather to watch Silver Birch win the 160th Grand National. | Thousands of people flocked to Aintree racecourse amidst unseasonably warm weather to watch Silver Birch win the 160th Grand National. |
| The Merseyside course had undergone a £35m redevelopment ahead of the world-famous steeplechase. | The Merseyside course had undergone a £35m redevelopment ahead of the world-famous steeplechase. |
| More than 16 million adults were estimated to have had a flutter on the big race, which was attended by about 70,000 people at Aintree. | More than 16 million adults were estimated to have had a flutter on the big race, which was attended by about 70,000 people at Aintree. |
| Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, edged out McKelvey to win the race. | Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, edged out McKelvey to win the race. |
| Weather forecasters said temperatures peaked at 22C on Saturday, making it one of the warmest Grand Nationals on record. | |
| Horses were doused with cold water and extra supplies of bottled water and ice were brought to the course. | |
| Security was tight for the three-day Aintree Festival and police had warned race-goers to get to the course early to get through the stringent security checks. | |
| All spectators were asked to pass through airport-style metal detectors and searches were made of bags and vehicles. | All spectators were asked to pass through airport-style metal detectors and searches were made of bags and vehicles. |
| Police said there were just a "handful" of arrests made in and around the course during the festival. | |
| Best-dressed prize | Best-dressed prize |
| One of the new attractions at the 2007 Aintree Festival featured 10 members of the public picked by a panel of experts to train as jockeys. | One of the new attractions at the 2007 Aintree Festival featured 10 members of the public picked by a panel of experts to train as jockeys. |
| The chosen 10 took part in a flat race in front of spectators and what has been described as a potential worldwide television audience of 600 million, each winning £5,000 for their chosen charity. | The chosen 10 took part in a flat race in front of spectators and what has been described as a potential worldwide television audience of 600 million, each winning £5,000 for their chosen charity. |
| Another non-racing feature was the final of a competition to find the most stylish race-goer at Aintree. | Another non-racing feature was the final of a competition to find the most stylish race-goer at Aintree. |
| Ladies Day on Friday attracted about 50,000 people | Ladies Day on Friday attracted about 50,000 people |
| Wayne Rooney's fiancée Coleen McLoughlin presented the prize, a Citroen car, to the winner - who happened to be a former school friend. | Wayne Rooney's fiancée Coleen McLoughlin presented the prize, a Citroen car, to the winner - who happened to be a former school friend. |
| Stephen Wang, 21, from West Derby, Liverpool, said: "I was at school with Coleen and Wayne so I know them both. It's amazing she is now presenting this prize to me." | Stephen Wang, 21, from West Derby, Liverpool, said: "I was at school with Coleen and Wayne so I know them both. It's amazing she is now presenting this prize to me." |
| Coleen, who was wearing an Alexander McQueen waistcoat and trousers, a brown Biba hat and Balenciaga shoes, said: "I know Stephen, I went to school with him but I don't have anything to do with the judging." | Coleen, who was wearing an Alexander McQueen waistcoat and trousers, a brown Biba hat and Balenciaga shoes, said: "I know Stephen, I went to school with him but I don't have anything to do with the judging." |
| Asked why she was not watching her fiancé playing in Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final, she replied: "I'd rather come here." | Asked why she was not watching her fiancé playing in Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final, she replied: "I'd rather come here." |
| Ladbrokes said the Aintree Festival is expected to break £250m with more than £1m staked every minute in the hour leading up to the National. | Ladbrokes said the Aintree Festival is expected to break £250m with more than £1m staked every minute in the hour leading up to the National. |
| David Williams, a spokesman for Ladbrokes, said: "Even we go weak at the knees with excitement and nerves on National day. The money gambled is phenomenal." | |