15:45 York

Thursday 15 May 2025

All14:1014:4215:1315:4516:1816:5517:25

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 11.56s

(9)

Alpine Trail¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 104| D

13/2

Has rapidly developed into a smart prospect this year, winning all 3 starts, the latest a 1¼m Newmarket listed race by 3 lengths. Supplemented for £14,000 last week. Limit not yet reached and a very interesting contender.

Form: 111

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(5)

Damysus²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104

16/1

Sent off at 8/11 and readily made a winning start to his career in 7f Southwell novice in December. Shaped very encouragingly when 1¼ lengths third of 5 to Swagman in Classic Trial at Sandown (1¼m, good to soft) 20 days ago, nearest finish. More to come.

Form: 1-3

(6)

Devil's Advocate^p1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| BF| D

80/1

AW maiden winner last autumn. Disappointing when only sixth of 7 to Sea Scout in Epsom 1¼m listed race on reappearance and cheekpieces are quickly reached for on the back of that.

Form: 31-6

(10)

Mister Rizz¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| D

50/1

Promising 425,000 gns Lope de Vega colt who was second on his 1m Kempton debut before easily going one better at Doncaster (1¼m) 12 days ago. This is a jump in class but he's definitely capable of better.

Form: 21

(11)

Nightwalker³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 102

16/1

Frankel colt who was placed in a 1m Newmarket Group 3 for Sir Michael Stoute at 2. Not quite in the same form when 8½ lengths third in 9f listed race back at Newmarket on return for new yard but he remains a colt with potential.

Form: 313-3

(2)

Pride Of Arras²⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett

18/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Sandown (1m, good) last August. Very much pitched in at the deep end on this first outing since but he has the potential for significant improvement.

Form: 1-

(8)

Royal Playwright²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108

12/1

Very talented juvenile, chasing home Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Royal Lodge. Shaped better than the result (had to wait for gap) when 2 lengths third in 1m Newcastle listed race on reappearance. Remains open to improvement now stepping up in trip.

Form: 1328-3

(1)

Sea Scout²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Davies| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 105| D

25/1

AW maiden winner in November and left that form behind when springing a 40/1 surprise in 1¼m Epsom listed event on reappearance, holding on gamely. Has the potential for better again but this is a much tougher assignment.

Form: 51-1

(4)

The Lion In Winter²⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| C

8/11

Not seen since winning the Acomb at last year's Ebor meeting but he looked an excellent prospect on that occasion and the form has been strongly boosted, with reopposing Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye back in second and recent 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court in third. Will be hard to beat.

Form: 11-

(3)

Tuscan Hills²⁰⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Raphael Freire| OR: 103

22/1

Looked useful when striking on his 1m Thirsk debut (good to firm) at the end of last summer and confirmed those impressions when following up in heavy-ground Pontefract listed race in October. Yet another in this line-up who looks to have his best days ahead of him.

Form: 11-

(7)

Wimbledon Hawkeye¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: James Owen| OR: 112

7/1

Split The Lion In Winter and Ruling Court in last year's Acomb here before winning the Royal Lodge in the autumn. Second in the Craven and fifth in the 2000 Guineas this year, shaping as if ready for this step up to 1¼m. Should go well.

Form: 3213-25

Forecasts

The Lion In Winter (8/11), Alpine Trail (13/2), Wimbledon Hawkeye (7/1), Royal Playwright (12/1), Damysus (16/1), Nightwalker (16/1), Pride Of Arras (18/1), Tuscan Hills (22/1), Sea Scout (25/1), Mister Rizz (50/1), Devil's Advocate (80/1)

This looks a strong Dante. THE LION IN WINTER is hard to oppose so well has his Acomb form worked out but there's enough in here to test him. Wimbledon Hawkeye, who chased home Aidan O'Brien's colt in the Acomb, shaped as if this step up to 1¼m is sure to suit when a fine fifth in the 2000 Guineas, while Alpine Trail, who was supplemented last week, and Damysus rate exciting prospects for top stables.