THIS afternoon on the Knavesmire Bollin Eric (2.30) bids to add the Yorkshire Cup to his portfolio of big-race victories following last year's heroic win in the St Leger.

The new darling of the Yorkshire racing public, Bollin Eric put his first foot on the comeback trail at Newbury 33 days ago, when he finished a close fourth to Clive Brittain's Warrsan over a mile-and-a-half.

It is a distance palpably too short for Tim Easterby's stable-star and he is fully expected to get his revenge over today's extra two furlongs. In fact a more sinister threat to Bollin Eric's supremacy may well emerge from the current Cup holder, Zindabad.

Kevin Darley, number one choice for both Zindabad and Bollin Eric, has opted to ride the latter, although it must be a matter of great anguish that he has to desert to Mark Johnston's stayer, a horse he has partnered to success at the likes of Royal Ascot in the past.

Darryll Holland is the jockey entrusted with the reins aboard Zindabad and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he and Darley will scrap out the finish of the £140,000 Group 2 contest.

If that is so, the prospect of having two Yorkshire-trained horses locking horns in the climax of such a high-profile event demonstrates the healthy state of the sport - at the top end at least - in the county at present.

Easterby might also be on the mark in the opener, the Langley Solicitors Handicap, with Fayr Jag (1.30).

There was a lorry-load of cash for the gelding at Beverley in April, sadly though, only the each-way "thieves" collected as Fayr Jag could only manage second spot behind Pic Up Sticks of Mick Channon's stable.

Tim isn't the kind of guy to wind up his team full throttle first time out and if that is the case I anticipate Fayr Jag stripping a lot fitter for today's six-furlong cavalry charge.

One of the final recognised Epsom Derby trials, the Listed Michael Seely Glasgow Stakes, is fancied to fall to the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt, Illustrator (3.00).

Stoute is always to be feared at this level and even given the obvious drawback of the lack of a recent run, Illustrator's long absence need not be a worry, judged by the impressive strike-rate of his stable.

As for his performances during 2002, form buffs will point to Illustrator's three-length third placing to Brian Boru in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy and seek no further, since it really does represent the stuff future champions are made of.

Mark Johnston's Nuit Sombre (3.35) gets the nap vote in the one-mile Black Cat Handicap.

Nuit Sombre's form went to pieces at the end of last term, however he bounced back with a cracking effort at Beverley on Saturday, an outing which will have blown all the winter cobwebs away.

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