CROWDS flocked to Jackdaws Castle for the first of Richard Phillips' Open Days on Sunday.

Fans of an equine, sporting and television nature were treated to a feast of entertainment, with the Question of Sport quiz proving hugely popular with the 3,000 visitors, including Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne.

Television's team captain John Parrott was at his jocular best throughout the proceedings that were rudely interrupted by a call for John Francome to move his Jaguar which was blocking in the County Air Ambulance!

The Channel Four tipster's forfeit was a donation to the charity courtesy of question master John Inverdale.

It did get better for Francome as his side were won the match on a tie break in an event that raised £3,000 - £100 for every question answered correctly - for the day's charities thanks to The Racing Channel.

Francome lined up alongside the BBC's Clare Balding, Tony McCoy and Robert Cooper and they narrowly got the better of Parrott's team which comprised jockey Richard Johnson, Luke Harvey and Racing Post punditAlastair Down.

Phillips introduced the parade of horses at 12 noon and, after the fun of the quiz, there was more to enjoy in the jockeys gymkhana.

The Castle yard was open to the visitors during the day and Phillips is proving an able replacement for David Nicholson who staged the first Open Day eight years ago.

The Racing Welfare Charities Millennium Appeal, the Air Ambulance and other local charities benefited from the event.