James Ferguson relishing Dante test with horse who beat Derby favourite

Trainer James Ferguson is full of confidence heading to the Dante Stakes (3.35) at York on Thursday with El Bodegon, who has already beaten the Derby favourite Stone Age.

The Classic hopeful, a 25-1 chance for Epsom glory next month, landed the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final juvenile start, accounting for both Stone Age, who won the Leopardstown Derby Trial by five and a half lengths, and Buckaroo, who took the Listed Tetrarch Stakes.

The son of Kodiac had to miss a trip to France for the Prix Greffulhe due to a minor setback, but connections are expecting him to put up a bold show on his reappearance, in which he is set to meet the highly rated Desert Crown.

'That race in France was fantastic'

Ferguson said: "He had a tiny setback before France and I didn't want to send him over unless he was 100 per cent. He's in good form for this first run of the season and we're going with plenty of confidence. He's got every right to be there, he's the only one on paper who has won a Group 1 so we're really looking forward to it."

Ferguson was pleased to see the form of the Criterium franked when Stone Age was propelled to the top of the Epsom betting on Sunday.

"It's always nice going into a race when you've beaten the favourite for the Derby," added Ferguson. "That race in France was fantastic, everything worked out with the form of Stone Age and Buckaroo who have won since. We like the horse and we think he's in good nick."

James Ferguson: reports El Bodegon in great form for reappearanceCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

El Bodegon has not yet proved he handles faster going, with his novice win coming on heavy ground and his French victory on very soft, but the Newmarket trainer batted away any thought the ground will be a problem.

"He's only ever run on soft ground but that's only because he ran on it so well," Ferguson said. "We knew he would handle it better than the others. There's nothing that has shown me he doesn't handle good ground.

"There are signs that it may rain and obviously I want it to rain, but it's the first run of the year and we can't be too fussy when it's been this dry."

Dante Stakes betting

Paddy Power: 9-4 Desert Crown, 11-4 Magisterial, 10-3 El Bodegon, 7 Bluegrass, 11 Masekela, Royal Patronage, 25 White Wolf, 33 Kingmax, 50 Dark Moon Rising

Full racecard and betting for Thursday's Group 2 Dante Stakes at York

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