Dante winner Item continues his preparations for the Epsom Derby 

Trainer Andrew Balding’s Dante winner Item has continued his preparation ahead of his next outing in the Epsom Derby.

Sired by Frankel, the Juddmonte-owned star is aiming to protect his unbeaten career and make it four wins from four starts. 

Off the back of his win at York, Balding told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m happy with the way he’s moving, he’s eating everything and seems happy. 

“He had a hardish race so we haven’t done any fast work with him, but he’s been cantering and moving well so we’re very happy.”

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In the mix

Item defeated the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo Action and Christmas Day to win the Dante – whilst priced at 11/2. 

It was his first run of the campaign and first run in a Group race, having won his Maiden at Beverley and a Novice at Bath, back in September. 

On Item’s chance in the Epsom Derby, Balding said: “I’d hope any Dante winner would be in the mix. 

“He’s a horse we’ve always liked and it seems to me that the further he goes the better he gets, which has got to give us some hope for Epsom.

“The difficult thing is he is still quite a raw horse and it can be a tricky track for inexperienced horses, that would be my concern.”

Item is priced at 4/1 to win the Epsom Derby, separating another pair of O’Brien-trained runners, as Benvenuto Cellini and Constitution River round off the top three in the betting. 

ITV will show the Derby live and free-to-air at 15:30 on Saturday, June 6.

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