Here, The Press looks at five things we learned from day one of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse...

RAIN PAIN

The York executives must really be beginning to wonder when they upset the weather gods as another of their major meetings was hit by a deluge of rain prior to the first race. A thunderstorm delivered 15 millimetres, turning the ground from good to firm, good in places to good to soft, soft in places. Come Saturday and the Ebor, though, clerk of the course William Derby might just be glad of the moisture as very little rain is forecast between now and then.

EASTERBY BACK IN THE BIG TIME

It is a long time since Tim Easterby notched his one and only Classic with Bollin Eric in the 2002 St Leger, but after Wells Farhh Go won on his debut at York the Great Habton handler was dreaming of Town Moor once more. In maintaining his unbeaten record in the Group Three Acomb Stakes he now has all the back-end Group races on his agenda – except the Racing Post Trophy as he is not entered and, ever the Yorkshireman, Easterby is refusing to supplement.

CHAMPION JOCKEY BACK IN THE BIG TIME

Before this season Jim Crowley had not ridden a Group One winner, but he took his tally to three this season on Ulysses. While the defence of his title is not going to plan with Silvestre de Sousa disappearing into the distance, there must be a part of him that would rather be riding the best horses in the big races. While Crowley was winning the richest race ever run at York, De Sousa was in action at Bath.

SECRETS OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE

Ralph Beckett is praying his Magic Circle makes it into Saturday's Betfred Ebor after quite a clear-cut win over two miles. Even with a 4lb penalty he is not guaranteed a run but Beckett has left the horse in York in the hope he sneaks in for his Yorkshire-based owners.

WHERE NOW FOR CHURCHILL?

In winning the English and Irish Guineas earlier in the season Churchill looked impregnable. However, a lacklustre effort at Royal Ascot and an aborted trip to Goodwood later, Churchill's season in now in danger of drifting of into No-Man's Land. As is his wont, Aidan O'Brien did not rule any race in or out afterwards, but it would be hard to say he failed to see out the trip today and there appeared to be no excuses.