Too Darn Hot and Japan set for mouthwatering Dante clash

Last season's champion juvenile Too Darn Hot is set to face Beresford Stakes winner Japan in a mouthwatering edition of the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Too Darn Hot came through a crucial dawn workout in Newmarket on Friday morning under Frankie Dettori, who was riding Lord Lloyd Webber's colt for the first time since he suffered the setback which forced him to miss the Guineas.

The John Gosden-trained Too Darn Hot was enjoying his first workout on grass for more than a month when scooting clear of his lead horse Whitlock, ridden by Rab Havlin, over seven furlongs on the Limekilns trial ground.

Too Darn Hot: market driftCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Gosden said: "Too Darn Hot worked nicely under Frankie on what was perfect ground. Obviously we're trying to get him back to the sort of shape he was in a month ago.

"We've gone from getting him ready for the 2,000 Guineas to getting him ready for something else.

"We're pointing him towards the Dante at York where hopefully the ground won't be too soft."

Too Darn Hot (left) follows work companion WhitlockCredit: David Milnes

Too Darn Hot, a 9-2 shot for the Investec Derby, features among 12 confirmations for the Dante, which is also the target for a leading Classic contender in Japan.

Japan's trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "The plan is to run Japan in the Dante once we're happy with him during the week. We had to give him a bit of time but he's coming along. He should come on for the run."

The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, which takes place at Leopardstown on Sunday, had been considered a target for Japan but he was not among the seven declarations. Broome leads a three-strong team for O'Brien, which is completed by Blenheim Palace and Sovereign. Buckhurst, Guaranteed, Pythion and Rakan provide the opposition.

Japan is a top price of 7-1 for the Derby, while Broome can be backed at 10-1.

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