SATURDAY is D-Day for Bollin Eric as he carries the Ryedale flag into battle in the £400,000 Rothmans Royals St Leger in a bid to provide Tim Easterby with his first Classic success at only his second attempt.

Although without a win to his name this season, Bollin Eric has shown time and again that he is a high-class colt, and his chances of victory on Saturday are reflected in the fact that he is third favourite in the ante-post betting at around 7-1 behind Bandari and Balakheri, two horses who have beaten him this season.

Balakheri, one of Sir Michael Stoute's three possible runners in the Doncaster showpiece, showed Bollin Eric the way home in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, while Bandari, trained by Mark Johnston at Middleham, just had his measure in last month's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

The thrilling nature of that race saw less than a length cover the first three horses home, with Bandari just shading Highest, with Bollin Eric finishing best of all in third place.

On Saturday, all the horses will be tackling an extra two-and-a-half furlongs, and Bollin Eric, in particular, is expected to relish the step up in distance.

Easterby, who has always held this son of Derby winner Shaamit in extra-high regard, has been delighted with him since his latest public effort at York, and was apparently more than pleased by the colt's final gallop on Tuesday morning.

The trainer, whose only previous Classic runner, French Fellow, finished unplaced in the 2,000 Guineas a couple of years ago, is now keeping his fingers crossed for easy ground on Saturday.

The forecast, unfortunately, is for mainly dry weather, but, while Easterby would prefer some rain, he would be satisfied with good going for his Classic hope. What he doesn't want is firm ground.

Bollin Eric, whose high-class form this season also includes finishing second in the Convergent Dante Stakes on Knavesmire in May, is owned, and was bred, by Lord and Lady Westbrook, long-standing owners of the Easterby stable.

The three-year-old will be partnered on Saturday by Kevin Darley, who, like Easterby, will be seeking his first Classic success in Britain.

Although Bollin Eric has had a variety of riders this season, Darley is no stranger to the horse, having ridden him at Royal Ascot.

The Sheriff Hutton jockey is also in the prime position of knowing better than most the strengths and weaknesses of Bandari, having been that colt's regular rider until he was purchased by Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum before his unplaced Derby bid.

Bandari consquently became the mount of Richard Hills, retained rider to the new owner, which meant that Darley faced the prospect of sitting out the St Leger until Easterby booked him for Bollin Eric.

Both Bandari and Bollin Eric will be flying the North Yorkshire flag on Saturday as they jointly bid to keep the season's final Classic in the county. It is 29 years since it last happened, courtesy of the Bill Elsey-trained Peleid, a 28-1 winner in the hands of the late Frankie Durr.

All eyes will be on Doncaster on Saturday to focus on the unfolding action. Tuning into Channel Four at 3.35pm would be Classic advice.

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, September 11, 2002