The Dante Festival at York has become a fan favourite in the flat season.
We’re on the eve of the Dante Meeting at York, featuring the Duke of York Clipper Stakes, Yorkshire Cup and Dante Stakes.
The Dante has long been a prestigious English trial for the Epsom Derby and is the highlight of York's three day Dante Festival.
In the last 10 years both Desert Crown and Golden Horn have gone on to win the Derby after winning the Dante Stakes and this year Ancient Wisdom will be hoping to do the same.
Dante Festival Dates
York's Dante Festival takes place over the three days from Wednesday 15th May to Friday 17th May.
The headline 2024 Dante Stakes will take place on Thursday 16th May at 3.45pm at York racecourse. The race is scheduled to be broadcast live on ITV.
Dante Stakes Odds
| Dante Stakes Runners | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Wisdom | 5/4 | 11/10 |
| Caviar Heights | 6/1 | 4/1 |
| Al Musmak | 6/1 | 4/1 |
| Chief Little Rock | 8/1 | 6/1 |
Dante Stakes Runners
Here's more on the top four in the betting for the Dante Stakes 2024.
Ancient Wisdom
Ancient Wisdom hasn't been seen since his juvenile campaign but achieved enough then to render him a short price favourite for the race. Indeed, on his penultimate start he won the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket beating Chief Little Rock.
That performance was on soft ground, as too was his next run where he won the Kameko Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. That run also marked his first Group 1 success and the heavy ground required the winner to have an abundance of stamina.
Whilst that puts him in good stead for this step up to 10 furlongs, it is a slight concern that his best runs have come with plenty of cut in the ground.
He was beaten in a Listed race at Ascot behind Rosallion on good ground and the dry forecast suggests conditions will be similar on Thursday.
Al Musmak
Another horse to come from that Listed race is Al Musmak who finished 2nd, one place in front of Ancient Wisdom. Indeed, he followed that up with another second behind Ghostwriter in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket. That run came on good to firm ground and the winner boosted the form with an excellent fourth in the 2000 Guineas.
Unlike Ancient Wisdom, Al Musmak has shown his liking for a sound surface and has every chance of confirming the placings now upped in trip. Although his Sire, Night of Thunder, was disappointing when stepped up to 1m 2f, his Dam's Sire Kitten's Joy was a Group 1 winner both over 1m 2f and 1m 4f so there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree.
Caviar Heights
Another horse with overlapping form is Caviar Heights who finished last behind Ghostwriter in that Group 2 Royal Lodge stakes. He changed stables to Karl Burke this year and has already been seen out twice this season.
First of those was at Newmarket's Craven meeting where he ran 3rd in the Listed Feilden Stakes over 1m 1f. He led that day and benefitted from a significant tailwind up the straight. Nevertheless he came out and won the next day at Newmarket's Guineas meeting in a listed race over 1m 2f.
He showed his ability without the help of mother nature that day and also proved his stamina at the trip. On top of that he is race fit and holds every chance albeit is form does seem a level below the others.
Chief Little Rock
Never out the first two in four runs as a juvenile, Chief Little Rock was sent off a warm 4/5 favourite for Epsom's Blue Ribbon Derby trial over 1m 2f. He led that day and was just found wanting on his first run of the year weakening into third.
That run was disappointing, however his final two runs of the season included a 2nd behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes and a 2nd behind Deepone in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.
Both those runs give him a major shout in this race and it might be worth forgiving his seasonal reappearance given the other disappointing debut runs from Ballydoyle.
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Dante Stakes Tips
Although Ancient Wisdom is a worthy favourite, the disparity between him and AL MUSMAK doesn't seem to make much sense. Not only did Al Musmak finish in front of him at Ascot but it seems that Al Musmak will more likely suit the forecast conditions.
That Ascot race is working out remarkably well with Dancing Gemini running a close 2nd in the French 2000 Guineas on Sunday and Al Musmak can continue to boost the form by winning the Dante on Thursday.
