RYEDALE trainer Tim Easterby had plenty to smile about on his 40th birthday.

The Great Habton handler (pictured below) landed the Ralph Raper Memorial Prince of Wales Cup race at Doncaster with Bollin Eric yesterday.

Sir Neil Westerbrook's colt was steered to victory over a mile on the Town Moor track by jockey Robert Winston to win by three-quarters of a length from Hoax.

Bollin Eric is reckoned to be one of the rising stars in Easterby's yard and certainly justified his 5/2 favouritism.

He made steady progress through the 16-strong field to take the lead just over a furlong from home and held off the challenge of John Quinn on Hoax.

It was Easterby's second victory in the race, having won it two years ago with French Fellow who went on to challenge for the 2,000 Guineas and Bollin Eric could now follow a similar path.

Updated: 12:18 Friday, September 14, 2001