The contenders: all you need to know about the key Derby trial

Stoute: I doubt Crystal is a Derby horse

Quite how much money it took to cause the collapse in Crystal Ocean's Derby price is unclear. What is clear is Sir Michael Stoute is very far from convinced that in Sir Evelyn de Rotschild's twice-raced colt he has a Derby winner in waiting.

In recent days the Nottingham maiden winner has been cut to a best-priced 14-1 (and generally shorter than that) from 33-1 for the premier Classic, the coveted prize his legendary trainer has won five times. Three of those five – Shahrastani, North Light and Workforce –went to Epsom after competing in the Dante.

Intriguingly, the surge in support for the son of Sea The Stars, a half-brother to high-class middle-distance performers Hillstar and Crystal Capella, came three weeks after he followed up his Newbury debut backend second with a two-length win at Nottingham that earned him a BHA rating of 89.

That would have made handicaps an obvious option for Crystal Ocean, but although he instead tackles a showpiece Derby trial - one his trainer has claimed six times, on the most recent three occasions with last-time-out maiden winners - on Wednesday there was little discernible confidence from Stoute.

"I don’t know how many tenners constitute a gamble," he said, adding: "We have been bringing him along steadily and I doubt he is a Derby horse."

Sir Michael Stoute after the DanteYork 12.5.11 Pic:Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

That said, first-time jockey Andrea Atzeni will be hoping his York mount absolutely is a Derby horse.

Atzeni said: "He has won a maiden, so this will be a big step up in class, but Sir Michael knows how to prepare a Derby horse and I have a good record for him."

Pros Really impressive at Nottingham and Sir Michael Stoute has a habit of taking the Dante with horses who had only won a maiden

Cons It is hardly encouraging to hear Stoute express the view his Dante runner is not a Derby horse

Benbatl spearheads Godolphin quartet

Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson said last week he believes the Dante should establish a pecking order among some of the operation's smartest three-year-olds. With four runners in the York feature that should certainly be the case.

Saeed Bin Suroor and Pat Cosgrave combined to win Lingfield's Derby trial with Best Solution and the trainer sounds pretty hopeful they could triumph again, this time with Craven Stakes third Benbatl.

Saeed Bin Suroor says we will see the real Benbati at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He didn't really handle the ground at Newmarket – it was too quick for him," said Bin Suroor. "He'll prefer easy ground and has been improving all the time at home. We also know he needs this step up in trip. We'll see the real horse this time and see how good he is. There are no excuses."

Also making no excuses is Charlie Appleby, who runs Saint-Cloud Listed winner Wolf Country.

"I've been very pleased how he has progressed since his trip to France, and some ease in the ground should be to his liking," said Appleby.

The third of Godolphin's three Newmarket-based challengers is the David Elsworth-trained Swiss Storm, who reappears having not come to hand in time to take in the 2,000 Guineas, which was his winter aim.

Already with a run to his name in 2017 is last year's Acomb Stakes winner at York, Syphax, who chased home the reopposing Forest Ranger at Newcastle on Good Friday.

"He has really improved for his run at Newcastle and has worked very well at home," said trainer Kevin Ryan, adding: "He is looking more like the finished article."

Benbatl pros Stablemate won a trial convincingly on Saturday and moving up from a mile will help

Benbatl cons Raced very keenly in the Craven and needs to improve as well

Rekindling favoured in battle of O'Briens

The Dante's ante-post market has suggested Joseph O'Brien is more likely to win than father Aidan.

While the maestro's Exemplar makes his seasonal return under Ryan Moore, his son's Rekindling, owned by Australia's Melbourne Cup devotee Lloyd Williams, has a three-year-old win to his name having defeated three Ballydoyle opponents at Leopardstown.

Joseph O'Brien with Rekindling in the winner's enclosure at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann

Joseph O'Brien, who will leg up brother Donnacha, said: "We were expecting him to run well in the Ballysax, maybe without winning, but he won nicely and the form got a boost when the second, third and fourth went back to Leopardstown and ran one-two-three in the Derrinstown Derby Trial.

"The Dante is usually one of the stronger trials and we're going to get a better idea of where we stand regarding the Derby."

Whereas Exemplar defeated Capri and Yucatan in the Ballysax, that pair were both in front of Exemplar when he took third on his final juvenile start at the Curragh.

Aidan O'Brien – none of whose four Dante winners went on to land the Derby – said: "He had a little setback about a month ago and that's why he's a bit behind the others starting off.

"He's just ready to begin his season and is in good form."

Rekindling pros Has one Derby trial in the bag and the form of that race has since been strengthened

Rekindking cons Although the Ballysax form has been boosted, it may not be particularly strong form

Exemplar pros Interesting that from a host of possible runners Aidan O'Brien selected him

Exemplar consHas not had a straightforward preparation and should be all the better for the run

Fahey's Forest seeks to shock again

Local winners of the Dante have not been uncommon in recent years and the very local Forest Ranger, trained just down the road from the Knavesmire in Malton, is among those attempting to pocket the famous prize for Yorkshire.

On his reappearance at Newcastle the Richard Fahey-trained son of Lawman sprang a 25-1 shock in the first running of the track's £100,000 Good Friday centrepiece, beating Dante rival Syphax into second.

With Tony Hamilton on board, as he has been for all the colt's three starts to date, he now bids to spring another shock.

Forest Ranger was much too good for Syphax at NewcastleCredit: John Grossick 07710461723

"All the ones I could have picked that I didn’t want to be there have been declared," joked Fahey, who has not entered Forest Ranger for the Derby but does have him in the St James's Palace Stakes.

"I'm very happy with my horse," he added. "We like him and will see where we stand after the race."

Approaching the Dante in much the same way are the connections of Cracksman's nearest Epsom victim and subsequent Newmarket winner Permian, who gives Godolphin an unofficial fifth candidate given he runs for Sheikh Mohammed's son Sheikh Hamdan.

"He has enjoyed a fantastic start to the year and exceeded our expectations," said trainer Mark Johnston's son Charlie.

"Sheikh Mohammed and John Ferguson were keen to supplement, in order to see where we should be aiming with him from this point onwards. It should give us some direction in how high to set our ambitions.

"The Dante will tell us if he’s a genuine Derby horse. Hopefully he will handle the soft, but there are no guarantees."

Likely rank outsider is Craven Stakes fourth Contrapposto.

"He seems to be improving all the time," said trainer David Menusier. "I think he’s a good horse and that’s why I'm not scared about throwing him in at the deep end again."

Dante Stakes card and form