Horse Racing

Dante Stakes Runners, Trends and Picks as All Eyes On Derby Favourite The Lion In Winter at York

Andy Newton Sports Editor

Published14 May 2025

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York stages its three-day Dante Festival this midweek (Wed-Fri) with a stack of top races over the meeting – including the Dante Stakes, where this year’s Epsom Derby favourite The Lion In Winter makes his seasonal reappearance.

With the final Dante Stakes runners out – there will be a maximum of 11 runners heading to post (see them all below).

Derby Favourite The Lion In Winter Bids To Epsom Claims In Dante Stakes

The Dante Stakes at York on Thursday has been one of the best Epsom Derby trials in recent times – with a total of eleven horses winning the Group 2 contest before landing the ‘big one’ on the Downs the following month.

This year’s the Derby is a tad later than last year – on Saturday 7th June – which will give the Dante Stakes winner 23 days to recover.

And most horse racing fans and the best betting sites in the UK think this year’s winner will be the Aidan O’Brien-trained THE LION IN WINTER.

He’s been propping up the Derby market since impressing in the Acomb Stakes at York last August and being sired by 2009 Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars many feel there will be a stack more improvement to come now stepping up in trip.

The Lion In Winter also byed the 2000 Guineas with connections preferring to give their Derby hope a bit more time and feel the step up to 1m 2 1/2f in the Dante will be more up his street.

Aidan O’Brien Eyes Fifth Dante and Eleventh Derby

He’ll be bidding to give Aidan O’Brien a fifth Dante Stakes win – but his most recent was back in 2010 with Cape Blanco, who didn’t run in the Epsom Derby – but instead won the Irish Derby.

This wins in the race came with Saratoga Springs (1998), Septimus (2006), Black Bear Island (2009) and Cape Blanco (2010).

O’Brien will also be looking for a remarkable eleventh Epsom Derby win this season – having hit double figures last season when City Of Troy won the biggest flat race in Britain.

The Lion In Winter is currently around 3/1 for the Derby on 7thg June – but a win in the Dante Stakes on Thursday will surely see that price vanish without trace.

Ruling Court, this year’s 2000 Guineas winner is next best at 4/1 (see the latest Derby betting below).

You can see the full 2025 Dante Stakes Festival race schedule, times and TV coverage here.

The Lion In Winter Horse Profile

Age: 3
Runs: 2
Wins: 2
Sire: Sea The Stars
Dam: What A Home
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore:
Last Run: 1st Acomb Stakes (York), 21st Aug 2024 (watch below)

WATCH: The Lion In Winter Winning The 2024 Acomb Stakes

Dante Stakes and Epsom Derby Winners

As mentioned, the Dante Stakes is a useful trial for Derby winners – with the last horse to do the double Desert Crown in 2022.

In total 11 horses have won both race – with the first St Paddy in 1960.

Other double winners include Shirley Heights, Erhaab and Golden Horn.

See the full list of Dante/Derby winners below.

1960 – St Paddy
1978 – Shirley Heights
1986 – Shahrastani
1987 – Reference Point
1994 – Erhaab
1997 – Benny The Dip
2004 – North Light
2005 – Motivator
2007 – Authorized
2015 – Golden Horn
2022 – Desert Crown

Latest Epsom Derby Betting Odds

The Lion In Winter – 3/1
Ruling Court – 4/1
Delacroix – 4/1
Twain 8/1
Lambourn 14/1

Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request – race is on Sat June 7th.

Dante Stakes Race Details 2025

📅Date: Thursday 15th May 2025
⌚Time: 3:45pm
🏇Racecourse: York
🔄Trip: 1m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £102,078
📺 TV: ITV/RTV (see the full ITV Racing coverage this week)

Dante Stakes Runners 2025

There will be a maximum of 11 Dante Stakes runners 2025, with the final declarations now out.

Alpine Trail (Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
Damysus (John & Thady Gosden/Kieran Shoemark)
Devil’s Advocate (John & Thady Gosden/Benoit De La Sayette)
Mister Rizz (Ed Walker/Tom Marquand)
Nightwalker (John & Thady Gosden/Robert Havlin)
Pride Of Arras (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan)
Royal Playwright (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy)
Sea Scout (Simon & Ed Crisford/Harry Davies)
The Lion In Winter (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
Tuscan Hill (Raphael E Freire/David Egan)
Wimbledon Hawkeye (James Owen/Hector Crouch)

Dante Stakes Trends and Stats To Help Find The York Winner

See below the key Dante Stakes trends that you can apply to the final York runners this week and find the best profiles based on past winners.

Like 15 of the last 22 winners having had a run already that season and 14 of these also winning last time out.

For anyone against the jolly The Lion In Winter – you might also be pleased to hear there’s only been three winning favourites in the last 17 runnings.

With the last outright winning market leader being Roaring Lion in 2018.

18/21 – Went onto run in the Epsom Derby (4 won, 11 in total)
18/22 – Came third or better in last race
16/22 – 8/1 or shorter in the betting
15/22 – Had run already that season
14/22 – Won last time out
10/21 – Went onto be placed in the Epsom Derby
5/22 – Won over 1m2f in the past
5/22 – Favourites (1 t)
4/21 – Went onto win the Epsom Derby
3/22 – Ridden by William Buick
3/22 – Ridden by Oisin Murphy (3 of the last 7)
3/22 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien (won it 4 times in total)
3/22 – Won by jockey Ryan Moore
3/22 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of last 10 runnings)
1/22 – Had run at York before
1/22 – Winners from stall 2
Only 3 winning favourites in the last 17 runnings (1 t)
Desert Crown (2022) and Golden Horn (2015) were the last Dante winners to go onto win the Epsom Derby
11 Dante Stakes winners in total have gone onto win the Epsom Derby

Dante Stakes Picks: Take The Lion In Winter To Roar Home On The Knavesmire

Despite the Dante Stakes having a run of six races with no winning outright favourite – it’s hard to not see THE LION IN WINTER running a big race on Thursday.

The Ballydoyle team have clearly taken their time with this 3 year-old colt, who has only been seen twice on the track – winning both times.

After winning on debut at the Curragh back in July last year (watch below) – The Lion In Winter backed that run up by landing the Acomb Stakes over 7f here at York. Beating 2000 Guineas 6th Wimbledon Hawkeye by 1 3/4 lengths.

Having missed the Guineas, the looks the sort to improve now upped significantly in trip, while his experience of York already will be another plus.

Yes, O’Brien has gone on record as saying The Lion In Winter might not be fully tuned up first time out – but with the stable in cracking form he’s still expected to be the one to beat.

Don’t forget – Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien raided the Chester May Festival last week and more of the same could be on the cards on the Knavesmire this midweek.

The already mentioned Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was 5th in the 2000 Guineas and has already had two runs this season can do best of the rest.

The longer could could eke out more improvement (Dam’s sire is former Derby winner Sea The Stars) and he was only 1 3/4 lengths behind The Lion In Winter in the Acomb here at York last season.

WATCH: The Lion In Winter Winning on Debut at the Curragh

Dante Stakes Winners (Last 10 Runnings)

2024 – ECONOMICS (6/1)
2023 – THE FOXES (6/1)
2022 – DESERT CROWN (7/2 jfav)
2021 – HURRICANE LANE (5/1)
2020 – THUNDEROUS (13/2)
2019 – TELECASTER (7/1)
2018 – ROARING LION (3/1 fav)
2017 – PERMIAN (10/1)
2016 – WINGS OF DESIRE (9/1)
2015 – GOLDEN HORN (4/1)