Dante confirmed runners and riders: Too Darn Hot and Japan head the field

Thursday's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes looks likely to have a major impact on the Investec Derby as leading Epsom contenders Too Darn Hot and Japan feature among eight declarations for York's Group 2 Classic trial.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Too Darn Hot will be making his seasonal reappearance and has not been seen since stretching his unbeaten run to four with a highly impressive success in the Dewhurst at Newmarket in October.

Thursday's York card

The John Gosden-trained colt, who missed the 2,000 Guineas after suffering a setback, is a general 6-4 chance for the Dante, in which he will be reunited with Frankie Dettori.

Japan, a 7-1 chance for the Derby, also makes his first three-year-old start for Aidan O'Brien, while Godolphin's Line Of Duty was last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November.

Novice winners Surfman and Telecaster step up to Group level for the first time in their careers, while Almania, Nayef Road and Turgenev complete the line-up.

Lloyd Webber will also be strongly represented in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Stakes, the other Group 2 on Thursday's card, with Lah Ti Dar.

The four-year-old finished second in the St Leger last season, and third in the Fillies and Mares on Champions Day, and is a warm favourite to make a winning reappearance against five rivals.

She faces Mrs Sippy, Nyaleti, Queen Of Time and Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair Rawdaa and Sun Maiden.

Last season's Windsor Castle and Flying Childers winner Soldier's Call is another high-profile name on the card, he heads a field of nine in the five furlong Listed Westow Stakes.

Dante Stakes betting: Too Darn Hot 6-4, Japan 7-2, Surfman 5-1, Telecaster 11-2, Line Of Duty 8-1, Almania 22-1, Nayef Road 22-1, Turgenev 33-1.

Dante Stakes runners and riders

1. Almania (Jim Crowley)
2. Japan (Ryan Moore)
3. Line Of Duty (James Doyle)
4. Nayef Road (Silvestre de Sousa)
5. Surfman (Andrea Atzeni)
6. Telecaster (Oisin Murphy)
7. Too Darn Hot (Frankie Dettori)
8. Turgenev (Kieran O'Neill)

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