Unfancied Dante Runner Plunges in Derby Market

A low-profile contender heading into the Dante Stakes, according to theguardian.com, 3YO New Bay colt Pride Of Arras left York on Thursday as a live Derby chance after producing a striking performance in the final recognised trial for next month's Classic at Epsom. The 50-1 outsider was having just his second career start and first in 280 days but showed a potent turn of foot to reel in Damysus by a length and a quarter, with the heavily backed favourite The Lion In Winter fading into sixth, four lengths behind. Carrying the colours of Yorkshire-based owners David and Vimy Aykroyd, Pride Of Arras lined up as the least experienced of the field, facing representatives of some of the sport's most powerful operations. Yet he darted through a narrow gap with authority and quickened instantly to take command. "We've been tough on him to get him here because he's so inexperienced," revealed trainer Ralph Beckett. "But he'll come forward for today as well, in terms of his lack of experience. It was everything we hoped for and more, and he's worthy of his place [in the Derby]." Beckett has long trained for the Aykroyds and described Pride Of Arras as a homebred who lacks the high-profile pedigrees of others in the Derby picture, saying, "He's not a Westover, he's not Bluestocking", but noting his raw speed and work ethic mark him as special. "If he handles Epsom, which I think he will... then we've every right to think we're going there to be competitive." The defeat marked another frustrating visit to York for Aidan O'Brien, as The Lion In Winter fell short of completing a clean sweep of the five major Derby trials – Chester, Lingfield, Leopardstown, York and Epsom. "The good thing about it is that Ryan [Moore] was very happy, and that's positive," O'Brien stated following the at-face-vale disappointing run. "If he had jumped and done everything right, you may have got away with it but he did nothing right. We know he has got class and he has speed and we will decide now whether he goes to Epsom or the French Derby." Despite the result, both The Lion In Winter and Damysus, who was having his third start, are expected to improve. But it may be Leopardstown Trial winner Delacroix (Dubawi) who now spearheads Ballydoyle's Derby hopes, with O'Brien aiming for a record-extending 11th win. Delacroix has been promoted to Derby favouritism at 5-2, ahead of Ruling Court at 4-1, Pride Of Arras at 5-1, and The Lion In Winter drifting to 6-1. It's 10-1 bar that quartet.