TWO helicopters swooped in to land and the champagne and seafood lifestyle was on hand as the Vale of Lune Hunt's Whittington Point-to-Point Races had the feel of a mini-Cheltenham Festival on Saturday.

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, crowds of spectators - conservatively estimated at 10,000 - attended at the course, just outside Kirkby Lonsdale, many of them taking the traditional option of picnicking on the hillside overlooking the action.

Clerk of the Course Chris Hodgson said the course had needed regular watering to produce good-to-firm going, and added: "The weather was just right and a lot of people had decided to make it their day out of the holiday.

"We had a good entry of runners and some close finishers for the big crowd - all in all a great occasion."

National Hunt trainer Richard Ford, formerly of Arkholme who is now based in Tarpoley Cheshire but still a Vale of Lune member, returned to saddle the Hunt Members Race winner in Chadswell for Swedish rider Pernilla Hermansson.

Farlington beat the favourite Place Above by six lengths to win the Men's Open for Phillipa Shirley-Bevan under trainer's son Charlie - a fine return to form after the horse had an abscess removed from its nose during the winter.

There was a winning double on the card for rider Adam Wadlow and owner-trainer Richard Hewitt with Ricky B and Benditbecks, the latter getting up to triumph in one of the tightest finishes of the afternoon.

Jo Foster took the Ladies' Race on Texas Ranger and William Kinsey rode Lambrini Queen, a well-bred mare, to a cosy Open Maiden success for owner Lisa Williamson.

No horses or jockeys were seriously injured on the day, though one of unshipped riders in the Charity Race, the last event on the card, was taken to hospital as a precaution, reported Mr Hodgson.

He said: "We have altered the fences to make them safer to jump by removing the guard rail and are leading the field by being the first point-to-point course to do that.

"In addition, the birch on the top of the fences has been piled to make it more springy so that the horses go through the top rather than tipping up.

"We have a keen interest in the safety of the riders and horses, and it is a very important aspect to us."

There is little respite for Mr Hodgson,who has to prepare the course again for Holcombe Hunt's meeting on Saturday, April 21.

The fixture was known as the Millworkers' Grand National Day when the meeting was held at its now defunct location in Bolton in Lancashire.