Liverpool sporting stars including Kenny Dalglish and Natasha Jonas attend countdown to Grand National event

Famous Liverpool sports stars including Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Natasha Jonas came together at an event to mark the countdown to this year’s Grand National.

With the Aintree Festival just seven weeks away, more than 250 celebrities, local personalities and racing’s elite converge for the annual Weights Lunch at the city’s stunning St George’s Hall. Racing legends Sir AP McCoy and Rachael Blackmore – who became the first woman ever to win the race in 2022 aboard the Minella Times – were among the guests who arrived to be greeted by 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges.

The now 22-year-old was also joined by the Park Palace Ponies, who had walked from their base on Mill Street in Dingle to the town center reception to welcome the attendees.

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During lunch, guests enjoyed a performance by Movema World Dance Charity of The Bluecoat and soprano Laura Wright – with music composed especially for the event. Dancers were recruited from the community to take part and had trained for over three months prior to the big day. They will perform again during the Grand National Festival taking place between April 13th and 15th.

Dickon White, North West Regional Director of The Jockey Club, which includes Aintree Racecourse, said: “The annual Weights Lunch is a really important date in all our diaries and a time when some of the most prominent figures in racing come to Liverpool travel to find out how much weight their horse will be carrying on the big day in April.

“Community is at the heart of everything we do at Aintree and it’s always an honor to work with some of the most passionate and creative people in Liverpool.