A MAGNIFICENT performance from champion jockey Kieren Fallon gave North Light victory in the totesport Dante Stakes at York races.

Fallon held off a surging Rule of Law, under Frankie Dettori, in the final furlong to claim the £145,000 Group 2 race and assert the three-year-old's credentials for June's Epsom Derby.

Sheikh Mohammed was at Knavesmire to take a look at Rule of Law's first ride for the Godolphin stable, but he could only watch as Fallon kicked North Light to the front with five furlongs left and battled on to take the spoils.

The win, by half a length, was trainer Sir Michael Stoute's fourth success in the May Meeting's highlight race. Let The Lion Roar, the 3-1 favourite, came home in third, a further two-and-a-half lengths behind Rule of Law.

Autumn Glory landed a massive gamble for punters when the four-year-old kept on strongly to defeat Duck Row by two-lengths in the Bank Of Scotland Corporate Banking Hambleton Stakes.

The Geoff Wragg trained horse had been as big as 9-1 for the mile-long £30,000 listed race, but was at 9-2 when affairs got under way.

Jockey Steve Drowne led Autumn Glory to the front with a furlong-and-a-half to go and he never looked back, staying ahead of Duck Row, Mine and Blue Spinnaker.

Frankie Dettori was banned for four days (May 23-26) for using his whip too much on runner-up Rule Of Law. It means he will miss the Irish 1000 Guineas and Tattersalls Gold Cup.

His fans had earlier had something to shout about when the Italian star jockey steered Crimson Palace to win the totepool Middleton Stakes.

The Godolphin filly was pressed all the way by Beneventa but, after being pushed into the lead at the final furlong pole, proved too good to be caught and sealed a three quarter of a length victory.

River Falcon at 16-1 gave bookies a good start by winning the totesport.com Handicap.

Yesterday's racing results

York

1.30 totesport.com Handicap (5f 3 yds): 1 River Falcon (N Mackay) 16-1, 2 Watching 16-1, 3 Henry Hall 25-1, 4 Corridor Creeper 12-1. 20 ran. Distances: , nk. Winning trainer: J Goldie, Renfrewshire. Artie, 7-1, Tom O'Ryan's Nap, finished 18th.

2.00 totepool Middleton Stakes (1m 2f 88 yds): 1 Crimson Palace (L Dettori) 6-4 fav, 2 Beneventa 10-3, 3 Summitville 4-1. 6 ran. Distances , 11. Winning trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor, Newmarket.

2.30 totesport Dante Stakes (1m 2f 88yds): 1 North Light (K Fallon) 6-1, 2 Rule Of Law 8-1, 3 Let The Lion Roar 3-1 fav. 10 ran. Distances: , 2. Winning trainer: Sir Michael Stoute, Newmarket.

3.00 Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking Hambleton Stakes (7f 205yds): 1 Autumn Glory (S Drowne) 9-2 fav, 2 Duck Row 25-1, 3 Mine 12-1, 4 Blue Spinnaker 10-1. 17 ran. Non-runners: Suggestive, Amandus, Blue Sky Thinking. Distances: 2, hd. Winning trainer: G Wragg, Newmarket.

3.35 European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes (6f 3yds): 1 Pivotal Flame (S Sanders) 14-1, 2 Crimson Sun 7-2, 3 Capable Guest 14-1. 11 ran. Distances , . Winning trainer: B McMahon, Staffordshire.

4.10 Tadcaster Maiden Stakes (6f 217yds): 1 Soldier's Tale (E Ahern) 4-9 fav, 2 Capestar 14-1, 3 New Order 7-2. 12 ran. Distances: 5, 9. Winningtin trainer: J Noseda, Newmarket.

4.45 toteexacta Handicap (1m 5f 197yds): 1 Star Member (K Fallon) 14-1, 2 Captain Miller 9-1, 3 High Point 6-1, 4 Moon Emperor 25-1. 18 ran. Distances 3, 3. Winning trainer: A Jarvis, Buckinghamshire.

Brighton winners

2.10 Buy On The Red 5-2; 2.40 Katipour 8-1; 3.10 Banningham Blaze 3-1; 3.45 Flying Spirit 4-1; Imperium 11-1; 4.55 Bank On Him 7-1.

Exeter winners

1.50 Odagh Odyssey 6-4 fav; 2.20 Sento 7-2; 2.50 Lord Seamus 8-1; 3.25 Wizard Of Edge 6-1; 4.00 Igloo D'Estruval 7-1; 4.35 Bengal Bullet 1-3 fav; 5. 10 Philomena 16-1.

Newcastle winners

6.15 Selkirk Storm 33-1; 6.45 Insubordinate 12-1; 7.15 Dance To My Tune 8-1; 745 Royal Melbourne 25-1; 8.15 Aleron 9-4 fav; 8.45 Tatweer 7-2.

Perth winners

6.30 Your A Gassman 2-5 fav; 7.00 Tulipa 9-2; 7.30 Ta Ta For Now 6-1; 8.00 Westmeath Flyer 9-2; 8.30 Torrid Kentavr 11-8 fav; 9.00 Travel 11-2.

Updated: 12:05 Thursday, May 13, 2004