Watering again at Aintree before racing on Friday

Selective watering is set to take place overnight before racing on Friday at Aintree after a warm, drying day at the track.

The going at the end of the first day of the Crabbie's Grand National meeting remains 'Good to Soft, Good in places', but 4-5mm of water is to be applied to parts of all three courses ahead of racing.

"It's been a dry and warm day and the forecast is for continuing dry weather," said clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch.

"As a consequence, we need to water to maintain the going descriptions for racing (on Friday)."

Jockeys were universal in their praise for going conditions on the hurdle and Mildmay courses, but riders in the Foxhunter felt that conditions on the Grand National course were slower.

Kevin Power, who rode third-placed Last Time D'Albain, said: "The ground is on the dead side and even if they put no more water on I can't see it being any better than good."

Steven Clements, who finished fourth on Major Malarkey, said it was "beautiful ground and I'd call it good to soft", while experienced amateur Derek O'Connor described conditions as being "on the slow side of good and a little bit tiring".

The sunny weather did help ensure a bumper first-day crowd of 34,752, an increase of nearly 1,300 on the 2014 figure.