Racing:Carlton House was cut to 2-1 for the Epsom Derby following a battling success in the Dante Stakes at York. The Michael Stoute-trained colt, giving a strong ride by Ryan Moore, fought off Aidan O'Brien's Seville to score by a length and a half on his seasonal debut.
In a slowly-run race, Pisco Sour set the pace, with both Carlton House and Henry Cecil’s World Domination pulling for their head in the first furlong or so. Jimmy Fortune on the leader took the runners across to the stands side in the straight, at which stage the race began in earnest.
Christophe Soumillon got the rail position on Seville, with Carlton House just in behind the two leaders as Moore waited for a gap. Once that came, the two protagonists had a pulsating duel and got close for a stride or two before Carlton House showed his superiority to land the spoils. Pisco Sour hung on for third.
“He has done well there,” Moore said yesterday. “It was a horrible race as they didn’t go any pace. It’s shame, really, because nobody learned a great deal. He still showed a very good turn of foot. His work has been very good at home. We were pushed to the start — it was a messy, stupid race. It’s only his third race and it’s a nice race to win.”
O’Brien was satisfied with the performance of runner-up Seville, saying: “It was a very good race and a very good trial. We are delighted with our fellow, but the winner picked up better than we did. We can’t complain, and the likelihood is he’ll go to Epsom.”