William Hill, the official betting partner of the Grand National Festival, has lit up Liverpool’s city centre with a 3D projection ahead of one of racing’s most iconic events.
In a bid to drum up excitement and also educate people about the Festival, William Hill projected a film featuring a selection of famous stories and major players from the Festival’s history.
Mark Walton, Racing Sponsorship Manager at William Hill, said: “The Grand National is one of the most famous races in the world, and we wanted to make something truly stand-out that lights up Liverpool as the nation gears up to be Grand National ready.
“By combining state-of-the-art technology with a stunning short film encapsulating everything that makes the Grand National so unique, we are proud as the event’s official betting partner to say we have lit up Liverpool as the nation gears up to be Grand National ready.”
The projection was broadcast onto the 457 ft St Johns Beacon in Liverpool city centre, bookended by an eye-catching, dynamic intro and outro utilising the latest 3D projection mapping technology.
Delving into the narrative, the film looked to focus on several of Aintree’s most famous fences, including Becher’s Brook and The Canal Turn, as well as the dramatic race past the Elbow onto the home straight, which was told through a video montage of historic races and commentary.
Passers-by may also recognise some of the iconic names that appear, such as the three-time winner Red Rum, Grand National legends Don’t Push It, One For Arthur and Corach Rambler – a favourite to go back-to-back this year.
Additionally, the video also includes notable appearances from William Hill ambassadors Sir AP McCoy, Barry Geraghty and trainer Lucinda Russell.
McCoy commented: “Winning the Grand National is any jockey’s dream and I was very lucky to do that in 2010 on Don’t Push It. I’ve seen re-runs of the race over the years, but never like this.
“William Hill has done an amazing job capturing the spectacle that the Grand National is and what it means to the city of Liverpool. It’s a brilliant visual and it really builds anticipation for this year’s race.”
The film’s debut took place on Wednesday (10 April) evening and will be displayed on loop at St Johns Beacon this Thursday (11) and Friday (12) evening, open to the public and offering an ‘unforgettable sensory experience’ for residents of the city.
With the Grand National at Aintree, William Hill made history at the racecourse last year, sponsoring the Boxing Day racing fixture at the Liverpool racecourse for the first time.
Walton added: “William Hill is a heritage brand with a reputation as a long standing, trusted racing brand and this ties in perfectly with the storied history of the Grand National.
“By combining state-of-the-art technology with a stunning short film that celebrates past and present racing royalty – tied together using the elements that make the race so unique – we’ve created something that inspires and energises viewers and gets pulses racing ahead of Saturday’s big one.”
