ROYAL Ascot stages its fifth and final day tomorrow, with North Yorkshire trainers bidding for a share of the action.

Bollin Eric leads the way in the £150,000 Hardwicke Stakes, Tim Easterby's Classic-winning star teaming up with Kevin Darley, whose success at the Royal meeting on Russian Valour in yesterday's Norfolk Stakes was followed by a treble at Beverley last night.

Darley, who won the St Leger at Doncaster last September on Bollin Eric, came in for some criticism from some observers on Knavesmire last month after sending the four-year-old into the lead early in the home straight in the Yorkshire Cup.

Briefly, it looked a match-winning move but Bollin Eric was unable to sustain his effort for three furlongs and, headed in the closing stages, finished third behind Mamool and Warrsan.

That race was run over the St Leger distance of one and three-quarter miles, but tomorrow Bollin Eric returns to a mile and a half.

He faces a tough task but, from a stable in flying form - two of Darley's winners last night were trained by Easterby - Bollin Eric is expected to make a bold bid.

Fire Up The Band, trained near Thirsk by David Nicholls, is the big hope of North Yorkshire in the £100,000 Wokingham Handicap.

Winner of two of his three races this season, Fire Up The Band has had this showpiece event on his agenda for some time. Trainer's son, Adrian Nicholls, takes the mount as usual and this classy sprinter has outstanding claims, despite this 30-runner cavalry charge being the most open of races.

Richard Fahey also has a chance of getting his name on the scoresheet in the Windsor Castle Stakes with Bo McGinty, the pride and joy of two local owners, Bo Turnbull and Paddy McGinty.

A hugely-promising third behind two useful winners at Beverley on his debut last month, the juvenile faces even stronger opposition here. But he is pretty well-regarded and it would come as no surprise to see him run a big race.

All eyes will be Airwave in the £250,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Last season's top juvenile sprinter, Henry Candy's filly produced a remarkable performance in the Temple Stakes at Sandown on her reappearance, winning easily after losing some five lengths leaving the stalls. Provided she does everything right, it will take something special to beat her.

Kieren Fallon and Sir Michael Stoute are fancied to complete a first-and-last race double with the high-class Chic in the Sandringham Rated Handicap and the battled-hardened Cover Up in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

Tomorrow's local action takes place at Redcar where Factor Fifteen has strong claims in the featured £20,000 Tetley's Smooth Handicap.

Beaten half-a-length by The Judge at Beverley last time, after suffering a crucially troublesome passage, John Carroll's mount should find compensation forthcoming.

Also worth noting at Redcar is the in-form Chairman Bobby, who can complete a hat-trick of wins in the Tote Scoop6 Handicap under apprentice Dominic Fox. He is awarded the nap vote.

Sheriff Hutton jockey Darley had a marvellous day yesterday. After steering Russian Valour to victory in the Norfolk Stakes for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston at the Berkshire course he was in sparkling form at Beverley.

Darley won the last three races at Beverley with Birthday Suit (2-1), Raphael (6-4 fav) and Silver City (2-7fav).

North Yorkshire handler Johnson's wonderful Royal Ascot continued when Fantastic Love pipped Salsalino by a short head to take the King George V Handicap- Johnston's fourth winner of the meeting.

Tomorrow's tips:

Royal Ascot

2.30 Chic, 3.05 Bollin Eric, 3.45 Airwave, 4.20 Fire Up The Band, 4.55 Bo McGinty, 5.30 Cover Up

Redcar

1.45 Best Before, 2.20 Factor Fifteen, 2.55 Chairman Bobby (Nap), 3.30 Blenheim Terrace, 4.05 King Tara, 4.40 Musawah, 5.15 Acomb

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Ayr, Wolverhampton, Lingfield, Market Rasen, Newton Abbot and Warwick

Updated: 12:34 Friday, June 20, 2003