Benny The Dip for Epsom

BENNY The Dip pinched a prominent pitch in the Derby reckoning with a convincing victory in the Grosvenor Casinos Dante Stakes at York yesterday.

He pocketed the best guide to the Epsom Classic outside the 2,000 Guineas by making all the running to gain his first victory over an extended mile and a quarter.

Under a masterful ride from French ace Olivier Peslier winning the race for the second year running the 100 to 30 favourite had two and a half lengths to spare over Desert Story with Musalsal third.

Among the disappointments were Yorkshire, who finished seventh, and the Godolphin challenger Medaaly, conqueror of Benny The Dip in the Racing Post Trophy, who was back in eighth.

Ladbrokes responded by slashing Benny The Dip from 25 to 1 to 7 to 1 for the Derby.

Gosden has saddled a second and two thirds in the last two Derbys and with 2,000 Guineas winner Entrepreneur dominating the betting, he could be booked for second spot again.

But having harboured doubts about his ability to stay a mile and a half, he is now convinced Benny The Dip, named after the Damon Runyon character who was a pick-pocket, has been misjudged.

If Entrepreneur is a superb champion then we are all running for second place. But there's good money in that and I seem to spend all my time doing it!" he said.

"We ran him to see if he stays and he bloody well outstayed them and was going away at the end. Olivier felt a mile and a half would not be problem.

"Not only is he a fabulous jockey but he is a very nice young man and I hope he can ride him at Epsom.

Benny The Dip had mucus in his throat at Sandown last time and blew for 45 minutes and there is still a bit of work to do because Olivier thought he was still showing signs of it pulling up."

Desert Story, who finished sixth behind his stablemate Entrepreneur in the 2,000 Guineas, was immediately ruled out of the Derby by Michael Stoute. "We felt he was just tying up. They were stretching him a little bit in the closing stages. He won't get the Derby trip," he said.

But the least experienced of the first three, Musalsal who missed last week's Dec Stakes because of the ground, could make the line up. Trainer Barry Hills is convinced the form of today's race is much stronger than that of the Lingfield Derby Trial won by Silver Patriarch.

Bodyguard left a big question mark over his chances of graduating to the top class after a far from convincing victory. Hugely impressive on his debut, the son of 2,000 Guineas winner Zafonic had to work surprisingly hard to justify odds of 2 to 7 in the Grosvenor Casino Sheffield Conditions Stakes.

Trainer Paul Cole refused to be downhearted by the performance