Overview

• Pride Of Arras, trained by Ralph Beckett, won the Dante Stakes at York at 18-1, defeating a strong field including former Derby favorite The Lion In Winter.
• The Lion In Winter, who was heavily backed as the 8-11 favorite, finished a disappointing sixth after pulling early and failing to settle under Ryan Moore.
• Following the upset, Pride Of Arras has been slashed to 4-1 in Derby betting, while Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix has taken over as the 2-1 favorite.
• Aidan O’Brien remains optimistic about The Lion In Winter’s potential improvement ahead of the Derby, citing the colt’s need for a preparatory run.
• The Dante Stakes, often a key trial for the Derby, has now further clarified the competitive field for the June 7 Classic at Epsom.