'Desert Crown is not any old maiden winner - he could go right to the top'

Thursday: 3.35 YorkAl Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) | 1m2½f | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

The Derby is crying out for a star and who better to turn to than Sir Michael Stoute to provide one? That appeared to be the mentality of ante-post punters last week as Desert Crown shortened to a single-figure price for Epsom on the back of just one run last year.

Quite how much money forced Desert Crown’s Derby odds to shorten is open to question. The unfortunate defection of longtime favourite Luxembourg would have played a big part, but Stoute has used the Dante en route to Derby success before and punters reacted quickly.