It's National Velvet times 50 - electric atmosphere on Tiger's historic day

You know it's a big day when people are employed specifically to welcome you with big yellow hands – you can't possibly miss them.

Nicci Loughead and her colleagues are in place to greet early arrivals when the gates open at 10am on Grand National day and they do their stuff until the first race is off before stopping to grab some lunch and returning to wave goodbye as the hordes drag themselves away from the three-day festival. Through the pain barrier, if necessary.

"You're aching at the end of the day but you smile and get on with it – it's our job," says Loughead, who is from nearby Bootle.