BOLLIN ERIC looks fantastic value at around 20-1 for this afternoon's big race at Ascot, the £750,000 King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, writes Colin Woods.

Tim Easterby's 2002 St Leger hero has yet strike this term, but at least he showed he was fully effective over track and trip when unluckily nailed right on the stick by Indian Creek in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Crucially the ground was akin to running on a road that day, not really the sort of conditions Bollin Eric really relishes. Thankfully that situation has now changed dramatically following a veritable downpour at the track yesterday which eased the surface to the soft side of good.

Despite having already bagged a Classic, I for one am not sure we have seen the best of Easterby's powerhouse, a big bull of a colt with quite a high knee action.

Such idiosyncrasies mean Bollin Eric's front legs hit the earth below slightly harder than a horse utilising a more skimming daisy-cutter type of action.

Given the much-needed juice in the ground it is entirely possible to envisage Bollin Eric improving 4-5lbs to record a famous first Yorkshire success in the glittering showpiece.

One note of caution though, an each-way investment is most definitely recommended for Easterby's star because it's simply impossible to be too dogmatic about the outcome of the 12 furlong encounter considering the strength-in-depth of the opposition, which is quite phenomenal.

In race to truly savour, the international line-up includes the English and Irish Derby winners, Kris Kin and Alamshar, Godolphin ace Sulamani, Eclipse and Japan Cup winner Falbrav, plus the pride of all South Africa Victory Note, to mention just a few.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.