Derby favourite The Lion In Winter is back and faces contenders from Godolphin, Wathnan, Amo and Juddmonte in the Dante

The Lion In Winter will make his highly anticipated return to action after being declared for Thursday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (3.45) at York.

He headlines an intriguing field of 11 for the Group 2, a race expected to have a big impact on the betting for next month's Betfred Derby.

Unbeaten in two starts at two, The Lion In Winter has not been seen since winning the Acomb Stakes at York last August, beating Wimbledon Hawkeye and subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court.

Ryan Moore rides the son of Sea The Stars, who is the 11-4 ante-post favourite for the Derby ahead of his stablemate Delacroix, the impressive winner of Sunday's Derby Trial at Leopardstown, and Ruling Court.

His opposition at York will include Wimbledon Hawkeye again after his fifth in the 2,000 Guineas for James Owen, while Alpine Trail is a fascinating contender for Godolphin. He did not race as a juvenile but is unbeaten in three starts, most recently winning the Newmarket Stakes by three lengths, and was supplemented for the Dante on Friday. Alpine Trail is not entered in the Derby at this stage.

Alpine Trail: dominant winner at Newmarket and supplemented for the DanteCredit: Edward Whitaker

Two others bring unbeaten records into the Dante, the once-raced Pride Of Arras for Ralph Beckett and Raphael Freire's twice-raced Tuscan Hills, a Listed winner last season for Amo Racing.

Major operations Wathnan and Juddmonte are represented by Damysus and Nightwalker respectively, with both trained by John and Thady Gosden. Kieran Shoemark rides Damysus, while Robert Havlin has been booked for Nightwalker and Benoit de la Sayette will partner the yard's Devil's Advocate for Godolphin.

Sea Scout already has winning experience of Epsom after his Blue Riband Trial win there last month and goes on trial again for Simon and Ed Crisford and last week's Chester Cup-winning rider Harry Davies.

Royal Playwright (Oisin Murphy) and Mister Rizz (Tom Marquand) complete the line-up for Andrew Balding and Ed Walker.

Ante-post favourite Kalpana did not feature among eight names put forward for the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes (3.13).

Kalpana's trainer, Andrew Balding, will instead rely on See The Fire in the 1m2½f contest. The Jeff Smith-owned filly won the Strensall Stakes at York last year and finished fifth on her seasonal reappearance in last month's Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.

William Buick and Charlie Appleby combine with Beautiful Love, who was third to stablemate Cinderella's Dream in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last time, while Nakheel represents Owen Burrows and was last seen winning the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

Ambiente Amigo, Doha, Karmology, Royal Dress and Sioux Life complete the line-up.

Confirmed runners and riders for the Dante

Alpine Trail William Buick
Damysus Kieran Shoemark
Devil's Advocate Benoit de la Sayette
Mister Rizz Tom Marquand
Nightwalker Robert Havlin
Pride Of Arras Rossa Ryan
Royal Playwright Oisin Murphy
Sea Scout Harry Davies
The Lion In Winter Ryan Moore
Tuscan Hills David Egan
Wimbledon Hawkeye Hector Crouch

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (3.45 York, Thursday)
Paddy Power: 8-11 The Lion In Winter, 13-2 Alpine Trail, 7 Wimbledon Hawkeye, 10 Tuscan Hills, 14 Royal Playwright, 16 Pride Of Arras, 20 Nightwalker, 25 Damysus, 33 Devil’s Advocate, Sea Scout, Mister Rizz

Confirmed runners and riders for the Middleton Stakes

Ambiente Amigo Harry Davies
Beautiful Love William Buick
Doha Hector Crouch​​
Karmology Sam James
Nakheel Jim Crowley
Royal Dress Ben Coen
See The Fire Oisin Murphy
Sioux Life David Egan

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (3.13 York, Thursday)
Paddy Power: 2 See The Fire, 7-2 Beautiful Love, 4 Nakheel, 6 Doha, 10 Sioux Life, 12 Royal Dress, 16 Ambiente Amigo, 20 Karmology

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