BOLLIN Eric and Smart Predator - two northern horses who brought great glory for their trainers and owners - were the highlights of a great week at home and away.

Add to that the Yorkshire connections of the Ebor winner and the icing was on the cake.

Smart Predator, trained by the in-form John Quinn, was among the 13 runners in the novelty greys-only race at Newmarket on Saturday and duly won under young Keith Dalgleish.

The speedy grey went on to contest the Royal & SunAlliance Handicap over six furlongs at York on Tuesday and again scooted clear, the young Scotsman on board again. Settrington trainer Quinn is in top form - Kevin Darley won for him at Beverley on Thursday, partnering Coxmoore.

Tim Easterby sent out Bollin Eric in the Group 3 Lonsdale Stakes at York on Tuesday, a longer trip than the St Leger winner had ever tackled, and his class showed. Kevin Darley rode Sir Neil Westbrook's homebred quietly, coming through with ease in the final furlong of this two-miler.

Easterby is now looking at the Irish St Leger and possibly the Arc.

Wednesday's Ebor winner St Alebe may be trained in Hampshire by David Elsworth, but is Yorkshire-owned and cared for. Former trainer Jeannie Brown, Raymond Standring and Paul Clifton are all Yorkshire people and share the ownership with the trainer himself.

St Alebe, who was partnered by Richard Quinn, was bred at Bramham by Muriel Hills and is by Bishop Of Cashel and out of Soba Up, a daughter of sprint heroine Soba.

Darryll Holland won for David Nicholls on Saturday at Newbury on the nine-year-old Proud Native. The Sessay trainer was mob-handed in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon the same afternoon, but was out of luck.

Nearest for us was David Barron's Undeterred in second (also fourth at York to Smart Predator on Tuesday).

Amateur Jo Foster, who runs a point-to-point yard and is well known for riding winners between the flags, landed a first Flat victory at Beverley on Aqribba, trained by Alan Lockwood. The winner was fittingly leased for the day to the Yorkshire Point-to-Point Club, which has horses with Jo.

Friday at Newcastle saw a dead heat that wasn't. The judge couldn't separate Williams Well, trained by Mick Easterby and bred by him and the owners, and Flying Tackle, trained at Denton, Piercebridge, by Michael Dods and owned by Neil Harrison.

Four days later the Jockey Club announced that the Dods "winner" was demoted to second, after the senior judge had been asked to look at the photo finish print. The trainer was not best pleased and withdrew Flying Tackle from a planned race that day at Hamilton.

Chris Thornton sent out his first winner for 110 days when Inglewood was handed the juvenile novice hurdles race at Bangor, the leader dropping his jockey. More than seven months had passed since the Middleham trainer had a Flat winner, but one came on Wednesday evening when Kevin Darley partnered Quicks The Word.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday of last week. - Herne Bay (trained by M Johnston, at Middleham; owned by the exors of the late R Clemons), ridden by K Dalgleish; Coxmoore (J Quinn, Settrington; D Bloy), K Darley; Whispered Promises (M Johnston; Mrs S J Brookhouse), K Dalgleish; Aqribba (A Lockwood, Brawby; The Yorkshire Point-to-Point Club), Miss J Foster.

Haydock ev: Mirasol Princess (K Ryan, Hambleton; Mrs M Forsyth & Mrs E Jamieson), P Fessey; Cripsey Brook (D Enrico Incisa, Coverham; trainer), K Tinkler.

Fri. - Newcastle: Prize Ring (L Ramsden, Sandhutton; Swisspartners), R Winston; Opening Ceremony (R Fahey, Malton; H Hurst), P Hanagan; Williams Well (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; Hb, K Hodgson & Mrs J Hodgson), D Gibson.

Catterick ev: Yarn Spinner (L Ramsden; J M & Mrs E E Ramsden), R Winston; Hawk (D Nicholls, Sessay; The Wayward Lads), R Winston; Differential (B Smart, Hambleton; trainer), P Scallon (claiming 3lbs); Victory Venture (M Johnston; Favourites Racing), J Fanning.

Newmarket ev: Million Percent (K Burke, Wensley; Platinum Racing Club Ltd), K Fallon.

Sat. - Newbury: Proud Native (D Nicholls; P D Savill), D Holland.

Newmarket: Smart Predator (J Quinn; Hb, B Shaw), K Dalgleish; Royal Beacon (M Johnston; Tweenhills Racing (Woolridge Syndicate)), K Dalgleish.

Bangor NH: Ingelwood (C Thornton, Middleham; Hb, A Daniels & G Reed), R Johnson.

Sun. - Pontefract: Flighty Fellow (T Easterby, Great Habton; T H Bennett), S Sanders; Brecongill Lad (D Nicholls; P Davidson-Brown), A Nicholls.

Mon. - Nottingham: Bonne De Fleur (B Smart; Hb, Miss N A Jefford), R Ffrench.

Windsor ev: Marinas Charm (M Johnston; Hb, Greenland Park Ltd), J Fanning.

Tue. - York: Bollin Eric (T Easterby; Hb, Sir Neil Westbrook), K Darley; Smart Predator (J Quinn; Hb, B Shaw), K Dalgleish.

Hamilton: Iskander (K Ryan; Mrs M Forsyth), J Carroll; Tanga Dancer (B Smart; Pinnacle Blue Ocean Partnership), R Ffrench; Wuxi Venture (R Fahey; R G Leatham), P Hanagan; My Daisychain (M Johnston; T G & Mrs M E Holdcroft), W Hogg (3); Tancred Times (D Barker, Scorton; trainer), T Williams; Pharmedic (T Easterby; C H Newton Jnr Ltd), D Allan (3).

Wed. - Carlisle: Johnny Parkes (L Ramsden; Hb, J Heler), J Carroll; Pax (D Nicholls; trainer), A Greaves.

Nottingham ev: Quicks The Word (C Thornton; Pegasus Team A), K Darley.