Bollin Eric, the pride of Yorkshire, would be a fitting and popular winner of tomorrow's Yorkshire Cup on the third and final day of the May Festival.

Tim Easterby's stablestar, unforgettable winner of the St Leger at Doncaster last September, has had this Group 2 contest, sponsored by Emirates Airlines, on his agenda since the start of the season.

An excellent fourth to Warrsan, succcessful again since at Newmarket, on his reappearance over a mile and a half at Newbury last month, Bollin Eric was reckoned by Easterby to have just needed that outing, and the four-year-old should be primed for tomorrow's £140,000 target.

Bollin Eric finished second to Moon Ballad in last year's Tote Dante Stakes and preceded his St Leger triumph by finishing third to Bandari in the Great Voltigeur.

The step back up to one and threequarter miles will suit Bollin Eric down to the ground tomorrow and, although his Group 1 penalty - an extra 5lb for winning the St Leger - means he has to give weight away to all of his rivals, I expect him to make a bold bid.

Kevin Darley takes the mount on the big Ryedale hope and so ends his regular association with the Mark Johnston-trained Zindabad, winner of the Yorkshire Cup last year and now, in the hands of Darryll Holland, attempting a notable double.

Easterby, who has a great record on Knavesmire, also has good prospects with Fayr Jag in the opening race, the Langleys Solicitors' Rated Handicap.

A very smart performer in this grade, Fayr Jag made a more than pleasing comeback when finishing second at Beverley last month and is reckoned to be cherrry-ripe for this six furlongs dash.

Easterby has yet another chance of success with Birthday Suit in the Paramount Hotels Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

This speedily-bred two-year-old, owned and bred by Lady Halifax, wife of the York chairman, has plenty to recommend her and is a filly held in some regard by her trainer.

Starry Lodge makes stacks of appeal in the GWP Architecture Handicap over a mile and a half.

Luca Cumani's progressive three-year-old has won both his starts this season and was triumphant over his elders at Redcar last time.

Back in his own age-group tomorrow, and with apprentice Nicky Mackay back on board, he will be hard to beat and is awarded my Nap vote.

The Michael Seely Memorial Glasgow Stakes has fallen to trainer Sir Michael Stoute five times and the Newmarket trainer has every chance of making it six with Illustrator, the mount of Kieren Fallon.

Although still a maiden, this talented son of Sadler's Wells was beaten only three lengths into third by Brian Boru in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last autumn.

Barry Hills has a strong following on Knavesmire and the Lambourn trainer can click with Far Lane in the Betfair Rated Handicap, while the husband-and-wife team of George and Ann Duffield can hit the target with the progressive Rifleman in the Black Cat Gold Series Handicap.

Thursday's tips:

York

1.30 Fayr Jag, 2.00 Far Lane, 2.30 Bollin Eric, 3.00 Illustrator, 3.35 Rifleman, 4.10 Birthday Suit, 4.40 Starry Lodge (Nap).

Salisbury

2.20 Rainbow City, 2.50 Nights Cross, 3.20 Captain Hardy, 3.55 Silence Is Golden, 4.30 One Way Ticket, 5.05 Sattam.

- Tomorrow's other race meetings are at Ludlow, Perth and Wincanton.

Updated: 12:13 Wednesday, May 14, 2003