"ROYAL Ascot's migration to York seemed to have gone off more or less without a hitch."

So reported The Guardian this morning, and there were other comments dotted about the national press to say that the warmth of the welcome made up for the nippy weather on Royal Ascot At York day one.

Grumbles about the traffic were as inevitable as the queues.

Motorists attending the remainder of the meeting might be advised to arrive a little earlier than the lunchtime rush hour.

A grand start, then.

All we need now is for the weather to get warmer than the champagne.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, June 15, 2005