Frankie McDonald could not have picked a better time to break his Brighton duck.

The 22-year-old from County Cavan in Ireland was the star turn as the hill top course staged the first leg of Racing's Big Day Out.

McDonald, never a winner in his previous 40 Brighton races, guided senior contender Desert Island Disc through in the last half-furlong to take the day's feature race, the totesport.com Brighton Challenge Cup.

It was the seven-year-old's third Brighton win but she only just got there, easing up in the final strides and holding off Darryll Holland on Antigiotto by a short head.

Blaze of Colour, the 4-1 favourite, led for most of the 1m 4f contest and McDonald admitted the plan had been to be closer to the front.

He said: "I was supposed to be handy but they went off too fast. She's a game little thing, though. I was at the back and I thought there was no way out but she just got an extra gear.

"She comes good this time of year and she's back to her best now. She loves the sun on her back."

So did about 4,000 racegoers on a hazy, humid opening afternoon to the revived three-day Brighton festival.

The car parks were full 45 minutes before the first race, there were queues at the gates and, later, the on-course cashpoint while the crowd enjoyed a mix of lively racing plus side attractions such as a parachute display, street entertainers and an Elvis impersonator.

Not that the latter was to blame for Taboor racing in ear plugs.

Martin Dwyer's mount always runs that way to avoid distractions and came through strongly to pip Holland's Jayanjay in a photo finish to the fast and furious five-length Brighton Dash at 14-1.

Holland made up for two near misses by snatching a desperately tight photo finish with Mister Clinton ahead of Ryan Moore's Londoner in the Classic FM Supports The NSPCC Classified Stakes That result denied Brighton-based Moore a treble having taken his career record at the course to 26 wins with a couple of favourites, including 1-10 shot Thirteen Tricks, trained by Pulborough's Amanda Perrett.

Moore is banned from today's action, when Frankie Dettori and Seb Sanders will be among star names for a card topped by the Brighton Mile.

He admitted: "It's a shame to miss good rides but we're riding every day, day and night, at this time of year so it's good to have some time off.

"This track is not easy, the ground is very fast and it's difficult for horses but I'm young and I shouldn't be scared of anywhere."

Many punters later headed to Hove dog track in a marathon day's racing which helped raise funds for the NSPCC.

Radio and television presenter Noel Edmonds collected a £50,000 donation to the charity but admitted he would not be dipping into his own pocket for a flutter.

He joked: "I've put enough money on horses because I've got four daughters who ride. Two of them represent Great Britain in the dressage. It costs a fortune."

BRIGHTON RESULTS 2.15: 1 Cusoon R L Moore 11-8 Fav, 3 Mulberry Lad Martin Dwyer 8-1, 5 Connotation D Holland 13-8, 6 ran.

2.45: 7 Icecap C Haddon 12-1, 4 I Wish G Baker 6-1, 2 Lady Mo A Mccarthy 7-2, 10 ran, non runners: 10.

3.15: 8 Taboor Martin Dwyer 14-1, 1 Jayanjay D Holland 7-2 Fav, 3 Byo R L Moore 12-1, 9 ran.

3.45: 2 Desert Island Disc J F Mcdonald 9-1, 5 Lennel M Fenton 10-1, 13 Absinther Hayley Turner 10-1, 14 ran 4.15: 6 Thirteen Tricks R L Moore 1-10 Fav, 5 So Determined E Ahern 11-1, 1 Dash For Glory Hayley Turner 33-1, 4 ran, non runners: 2,4.

4.45: 6 Mister Clinton D Holland 5-2 Fav, 5 Londoner R L Moore 11-2, 2 Liberty Royal D Sweeney 5-1, 8 ran, non runners: 3.

5.15: 8 Brandywine Bay T Block 11-2, 2 Growler W Hogg 7-2 Fav, 1 Captain Cloudy R Lucey-Butler 8-1, 12 ran, non runners: 4