Despite the glitz and glamour, it was those without tickets that stole the Grand National show

Aintree Racecourse on Grand National day has long been popular among those with a penchant for standing out.

The world famous event is as renowned and loved for its fashion as it is horse-racing. Each year, tens of thousands of stylish racegoers dress to the nines in an array of eye-catching outfits.

While the usual glitz and glamour were there for all to see, it was those without tickets that stole the show at this year's race.

Just minutes before the National was due to begin, dozens of animals rights protesters in bright pink t-shirts scaled the fences surrounding the famous course.

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Millions watched at home as police and activists clashed, leading to the start of the showpiece being delayed. Yet many of the 70,000 racegoers at Aintree did not seem to notice the protest.

The race eventually began 14 minutes after the planned start time of 5.15pm. Within moments, a horse fell at the first fence.

Hill Sixteen is said to have suffered a broken neck before being put down, making him the second horse to die at Aintree on Saturday and the third at the three-day festival.

The race was eventually won Corach Rambler - trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox. Yet the day will be remembered for the extraordinary scenes that played out before the starting orders had been set.

For much of the day, protests had remained peaceful, until at around 5pm when a number made their way onto the course.

Activists using ladders to climb into the grounds of the racecourse while at least two protesters fixed themselves to a jump using glue and lock-on devices, animal rights group Animal Rising said.

Images showed activists being bundled away by police.