Wednesday sees the running of the Dante Stakes (Group Two). It is one of the most reliable Derby trials having produced Derby winners Benny The Dip and Erhaad as well as the likes of Glory Of Dancer, Sakhee and Moon Ballad - all of whom were placed at Epsom in the last ten years.

Other horses to triumph in the Dante and to go onto to Epsom glory include Shirley Heights, Shahrastani and Reference Point. This year the York showpiece focus will fall on several lightly raced, horses from some of the bigger stables. The race will be run over ten furlongs on Wednesday. Ten horses look likely to run at this stage.

ANDEAN: The son of Singspiel was a brilliant winner of his maiden on his three year old debut , winning by seven lengths at Yarmouth - the second has come out and won subsequently.
He has run just twice, running unplaced behind the smart Josephus at his only start at two. Trained by David Loder, apprentice Tom Queally takes the ride. A three parts brother to group two winner, Annaba, he bids to give his sire his second winner of the race in three years.

BARBAJUAN: Winner of the Solario Stakes at two, he was third in the Gran Criterium to Pearl Of Love. Unplaced in both starts this year, he was well beaten in the 2000 Guineas, running 12 of 14. His pedigree does not clarify the likelihood of his staying the ten furlongs. His son, Danehill Dancer, was a very quick two year old whose making his name as a sire of sprinter milers. Despite being out of a daughter of stamina influence Saddlers' Hall, his female family is also speedy. His trainer Neville Callaghan won last year with Magistretti. Philip Robinson rides.

LET THE LION ROAR: One of the talking horses in the race, the son of Sadler's Wells has won two of three starts to date for John Dunlop. His last start saw him win over ten furlongs defeating the smart Top Seed by half a length. The third home that day was a further 17 lengths back.
His pedigree, a half brother to St Leger winner Millenary, suggests the further he goes the better. His trainer last won with Sakhee in 2000 - subsequently second to Sinndar in the Derby. Michael Kinane rides.

MOSCOW BALLET: Another son of Sadler's Wells, he is a half brother to champion sprinter and sire, Stravinsky. Runner up to Snow Ridge in the Royal Lodge Stakes last year over nine furlongs, he beat Rule of Law that day - whom he meets again here. The form of that race was flattered by Snow Ridge's good second in the English 2000 Guineas. He was fifth in the Gran Criterium, behind Barbajuan, on his last start at two. Moscow Ballet has not run this season. Aiden O'Brien's disappointing start to the season is a concern. Stable jockey Jamie Spencer rides.

MUTAWAFFER: Bids to give Barry Hills another big race success. The son of Marju has not run as a three year old and has yet to try further than a mile but his female line is laden with stamina and the trip should hold no worries. A winner of two of his four starts to date, he ran unplaced in the Horris Hill Stakes on his last start, when second last. Prior to that he won a conditions race narrowly. Fifth, beaten over six lengths by Rule Of Law, in the Acomb Stakes suggests he is not quite up to winning at this level. Richard Hills rides, the colt whose dam is a half sister to At Talaq.

NORTH LIGHT: Won his second start at two, has not been out since last September. The form of his maiden win has not worked out and it is diffcult to assess the son of Danehill. A short head second to the highly regarded Post and Rail on his first start, suggested he was up to scratch.
Sir Michael Stoute trains the colt, who will be ridden by Kieran Fallon.
He is out of Prix du Cadran winner, Sought Out.

OMAN GULF: Winner of his sole start to date last July. The runner up, Master David, subsequently won the Sham Stakes in the USA before running a narrow second in the Grade One Wood Memorial.
Further back in the race was the top class Auditorium.
The second Hills runner in the race, it is hard to assess him and he should need the run. A son of Diesis, like last year's winner Magistretti, his dam is the top class Shareef Dancer mare, Dabaweeya. This makes him a half brother to the talented Magellan. Michael Hills rides.


RULE OF LAW: A smart two year old last year when winning the Acomb Stakes and third in the Royal Lodge Stakes. A son of Kingmambo, he is Godolphin's representative in the race. Yet to run at three, there is little between him and Moscow Ballet. From the family of Teenoso and Most Welcome, he is, inevitably, the ride of Frankie Dettori.

SKIDMARK: One of the more experienced horses in the field, having made seven starts to date - five this year. Well beaten, by over 20 lengths, by Bull Run on his last start. A son of Pennekamp, he showed promise at two, albeit on the all weather surface,
winning his second start over a mile at Lingfield. He ran third at his penultimate start to subsequent group three winner Leitrim House, beaten just a length. David Elsworth trains the colt, who will be ridden by Richard Hughes.

TOP SEED: Runner up to champion Bago in the Group One Criterium International, when beaten by six lengths. He followed that up with a fourth to leading French Derby contender Voix Du Nord in the Criterium de Saint Cloud. His form exposes him as being not quite up to group one level but he is a game and solid colt. A game second on his first start this year to Let The Lion Roar. Trained by Mick Channon, Ted Durcan rides the son of Cadeaux Genereux. He has made 12 starts to date for a win and seven places.

SELECTION
1. Let the Lion Roar
2. Andean
3. Rule of Law