Derby D-Day for Alpine Trail and Devil’s Advocate in G2 Dante Stakes

Alpine Trail and Devil’s Advocate hope to boost their Derby claims in the G2 Dante Stakes, with Beautiful Love also challenging for G2 honours in the Middleton Stakes on the same York card on Thursday, 15 May.

Alpine Trail is unbeaten in three career outings for Charlie Appleby. A decisive winner on his debut at Wolverhampton in February, the Dubawi colt impressed again at Yarmouth in April before a straightforward all-the-way success in the Listed Newmarket Stakes at the Guineas Festival earlier this month.

Devil’s Advocate was a non-runner in the Newmarket Stakes, having finished sixth on his three-year-old return in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Too Darn Hot colt had two appearances as a juvenile, including scoring by seven and a half lengths at Chelmsford.  

Charlie Appleby said: “Alpine Trail has done very little wrong to date. We know he gets this trip and feel he will get further. He is a hard horse to assess because he wouldn’t get you too excited in the mornings, although you cannot fault what he has achieved on the track. The Lion In Winter looks the standout in the race, although our horse won’t be out of place in an otherwise competitive renewal.”

Beautiful Love heads into the G2 Middleton Stakes after going down by just over five lengths in third behind Cinderella’s Dream in the G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival.

A Listed winner at two, the Siyouni homebred enjoyed a successful stay in North America last year, capturing the G3 Jockey Club Oaks and finishing a close fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Charlie Appleby said: “Beautiful Love ran a solid race on her seasonal return in the Dahlia Stakes and came out of the race very well. Stepping back up in trip will help and conditions at York should suit. She should be very competitive.”