GLORY OF DANCER ripped out his stable window and then opened the doorway to a Derby dream when capturing the Homeowners Dante Stakes at York yesterday. Paul Kelleway's colt is now the 5 to 1 clear favourite for the Epsom Classic.

However, his victory has brought an end to the Derby ambitions of the highly rated Nash House who faded into fourth after cruising to the front two furlongs out, leaving his trainer Peter Chapple Hyam to hurry away after the defeat.

Leading French jockey Olivier Peslier was coolness personified as he extracted the Italian owned colt from a pocket on the rails with three furlongs to run. He pushed out the colt with just hands and heels as he steered Glory Of Dancer to a half length triumph from Dushyantor with front running outsider Jack Jennings an excellent third.

Kelleway has a stable strength of just 26 in Newmarket but a new association with a collection of Italian owners has brought him to the threshold of a first Derby victory.

Glory Of Dancer was sent to Kelleway in January but efforts to sell a share in him had failed until Antonio Balzarini, best known as the owner of 1989 Are winner Carroll House, purchased half of the colt two days ago.

He could run in the Balzarini colours at Epsom with Peslier, who won the Irish Derby on Winged Love last year, in the saddle provided retaining owner Daniel Wildenstein is not represented.

Guineas first and second Mark Of Esteem and Even Top are Glory Of Dancer's nearest rivals in the Derby betting at a best priced 7 and 6 to 1. And Dushyantor, who was staying on strongly, is down to 7 to 1 after finishing ahead of stablemate Storm Trooper, who was fifth.

Nash House, who had drifted ominously in the betting to start 5 to 2 joint favourite with Storm Trooper, appeared to have the race at his mercy halfway up the straight.

The brilliant Michael Kinane seized a 629 to 1 treble, registering victories on Bathilde, Fairy Wind and Proud Native.

Kinane underlined his skills when propelling Proud Native home by a neck from Indian Spark in the Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television Handicap.