Godolphin supplement unbeaten colt to potentially take on Derby favourite The Lion In Winter in Dante Stakes at York

Betfred Derby favourite The Lion In Winter remains on course to return to York after confirmations were made for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on Friday.

He was among 13 colts left in next Thursday's £180,000 contest, the richest Classic trial in the British calendar and a contest whose winner has gone on to triumph at Epsom 11 times — most recently Desert Crown in 2022.

The potential field has also been boosted after Godolphin paid £14,000 to supplement the unbeaten Alpine Trail, who made it three from three when landing the Listed Newmarket Stakes at the Guineas meeting. The colt does not hold an entry in the Derby.

Alpine Trail was an impressive winner on the first day of Newmarket's Guineas festival last FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The Dante was nominated by Aidan O'Brien as the comeback target for The Lion In Winter when he was forced to rule the ante-post favourite out of the 2,000 Guineas this spring because he was taking too long to come right.

And the trainer confirmed on Friday: "The plan at the moment is still for The Lion In Winter to run in the Dante. We're just trying to get him there and we hope he'll make it. He's coming along nicely but he will come forward a lot for the run. We feel there will be loads of improvement to come after York."

The three-year-old remains atop the betting for the Derby, at a best-priced 7-2, having made a winning debut in a maiden at the Curragh last summer then followed up in the Acomb Stakes at York – a Group 3 contest in which Guineas winner and fellow leading Epsom hope Ruling Court finished third.

But he has not run since, having missed the Dewhurst Stakes last autumn due to a bruised foot.

Ed Walker runs Mister Rizz in the DanteCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ed Walker is set to step Prix du Jockey Club hope Mister Rizz up in class in next week's race over a mile and two and a half furlongs.

His colt won a three-runner maiden at Doncaster at 2-13 and the trainer said: “It’s a big ask, a big step into the Dante, but he’s bred for the job, he was bought for the job. He’s finished second and first in his only two starts and we’re there to put him in against good horses and see how he gets on.

“We believe he belongs higher than another novice grade of race. And he wasn’t bought to be a handicapper, so we’ll see where we are. 

“I think he’s more of a Jockey Club than a Derby horse. He’s got stacks of speed, hence I started him over a mile. I know you need speed to win a Derby, but I just feel he’s more of a ten-furlong horse than a 12-furlong horse.”

The ground at York was described on Friday as good to firm, good in places, with 17mm of water applied in the last seven days as the dry spring continues.

Dante Stakes latest field after confirmation stage

Alpine Trail (supplemented) trained by Charlie Appleby
Damysus John and Thady Gosden
Devil's Advocate John and Thady Gosden
Mister Rizz Ed Walker
Nightwalker John and Thady Gosden
Pride Of Arras Ralph Beckett
Royal Playwright Andrew Balding
Scandinavia Aidan O'Brien
Seacruiser Ralph Beckett
Sea Scout Simon and Ed Crisford
The Lion In Winter Aidan O'Brien
Trinity College Aidan O'Brien
Tuscan Hills Raphael Freire
Wimbledon Hawkeye James Owen

Latest ante-post odds

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (3.45 York, May 15)

Paddy Power: 11-8 The Lion In Winter, 5 Alpine Trail, Royal Playwright, 6 Tuscan Hills, 8 Nightwalker, Trinity College, 9 Pride Of Arras, 10 Wimbledon Hawkeye, 12 Damysus, 14 Sea Scout, 16 Devil’s Advocate, Seacruiser, 20 Mister Rizz, Scandinavia 

Betfred Derby (3.30 Epsom, June 7)

Betfred: 3 The Lion In Winter, 7-2 Ruling Court, 7 Delacroix, 15-2 Twain, 14 Lambourn, 20 Mount Kilimanjaro, 25 Green Impact, Stanhope Gardens, 33 bar

Read more:

'It's not a good thing for us' - Aidan O'Brien raises potential problem with decision to finalise Derby field a day earlier 

'He's got a big engine and Ryan likes him' - Lambourn overcomes a difficult trip in Chester Vase as Ballydoyle bounce back 

Aidan O'Brien goes nap on Chester Classic trials as Dee Stakes winner Mount Kilimanjaro scales new heights 

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