CLASSIC winner and North Yorkshire favourite Bollin Eric capped a superb first day at the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse with a scintillating triumph in the Group 3 Lonsdale Stakes.

The St Leger winner brought yet another success for Malton's Tim Easterby, Sheriff Hutton jockey Kevin Darley and owner Sir Neil Westbrook.

A heavily backed 7-4 favourite, Bollin Eric breezed through his first trip at two miles, keeping out of trouble early on before brushing aside Zindabad and, after hitting the front a furlong out, galloping on for a two-length victory over Cover Up.

The win, his first this season, brought a huge cheer from an enormously partisan York crowd and delighted both trainer and jockey.

Easterby said: "I couldn't be more pleased with that and hopefully he will stay in training next year as well. He has been running well all year and we will now go for the Irish St Leger."

Darley maintained the four-year-old had yet to run a bad race. Bollin Eric provided him with his first classic success in last year's St Leger at Doncaster.

"He has run all over the place but he is still placed in them all," he said. "Those were two-mile horses he beat. He showed today what class he has got and he is going to get better."

Bollin Eric (pictured rght) may have pleased the crowds but Falbrav took all the glory as he crushed rival Nayef to land the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

A two-length success over Magistretti, with Nayef lagging behind in third, not only saw the Luca Cumani-trained horse take a first prize of £266,800 but also bag the British Horse Racing Board's Middle Distance Championship - and a bonus of £250,000 - for its connections.

The 5/2 second favourite, described by Cumani as 'a machine', forced his way to the front with two furlongs left.

Nayef, who had been looking to repeat last year's Juddmonte win, had taken up the running in the home straight but faded as Falbrav asserted and finished the stronger.

Racegoers were treated to a nail-biting finish as Powerscourt pipped Brian Boru to win the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.

A late surge from the Aiden O'Brien-trained Brian Boru inside the final furlong had looked to have secured victory but, under tremendous pressure, Mick Kinane kept Powerscourt in touch to win by a neck on the line.

A glorious first day was rounded off in fine style when Malton-trained Smart Predator took the last.

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, August 20, 2003