Day two of the meeting saw the feature race run and a new name on the guest list for the Epsom Derby. 

Race One: The Lindum York Handicap - Class Two - 5 Furlongs - 13 Runners
Winner: REGIONAL (#3) - C. Rodriguez - E. Bethell - Territories x Favulusa

The first race of day two of the Dante Festival was all about speed with this class two handicap over the flying five furlongs. Many course regulars returned again to York and the race has been won in previous by some popular names. The pocket rocket El Astronaute produced one of his best performances in this race in 2018 while Duke Of Firenze and Copper Knight landed this contest two years in a row each in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021 respectively. Last year saw the tough and consistent Fine Wine blitz his way up the straight to win by a clear margin. 
Just like Dakota Gold the previous day, York legend Copper Knight returned to the Knavesmire in this race seeking to hold the outright record of wins at York. Despite looking below his best in recent times, he always comes alive on this turf. There would be thirteen speedy rivals in opposition, hungry to gain more success on this track. Former winners at York included Aligator Alley, Designer and Lord Riddiford while Korker dropped back into handicap company after dipping his toe in a Group Two last time. 
It was a return to form for the winner Regional, who blazed the trail up front and held off his rivals to score by a comfortable half length. With plenty of early pace in the race, there were no prisoners taken and not many were able to land a blow. Ridden by Callum Rodriguez, the five year raced keenly and made almost all of the running. Bedford Flyer kept the leader busy but settled for third as Korker flashed home from off the pace, failing to make up the ground quickly enough. Regional, trained in Middleham by Ed Bethell had shown classy form without winning including a third in last year's Steward's Cup over six furlongs. A first win since September 2021, he showed plenty of natural speed to cope with the drop to five furlongs here. 

Race Two: The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Stakes - Group Two - 1 mile, 2 furlongs - 7 Runners
Winner: FREE WIND (#3) - F. Dettori - J & T. Gosden - Galileo x Alive Alive Oh

It was the turn of the girls with this Group Two for fillies and mares over the age of four. A valuable contest in terms of a future at stud, trainers are prone to keeping their fillies in training longer to gain black type like this race. Former winners of this race include the high class Sariska, Midday and Crystal Capella. 
This year's entry list saw a small and select group of mares line up, but the quality amongst them was very high. The five year old Free Wind has won five of her seven starts for the Gosdens and two of those were very impressive at this Group Two level. The year younger Sea Silk Road was placed at Royal Ascot last year and promised to be even better this year. Group One winner Aristia was aiming to go one place better in this race than last year's runner up spot and the intriguing entry was Toksana Belle, making her debut for trainer Roger Varian. A new arrival to Britain, the four year old filly landed last year's German Oaks.
After the withdrawal of Toksana Belle, the field was reduced to seven but didn't lack for a quality finish. In a driving finish, it would be Free Wind who extended her tally to six wins and did so in the style of a future Group One winner. Absent from the track since winning in July last year due to injury, the well bred daughter of Galileo was eagerly anticipated this year and the potential was lived up to here. With winning form over fourteen furlongs, this ten furlong trip was expected to be her bare minimal. Facing the challenge of last year's Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Rogue Millenium, the two bumped and battled inside the final furlong, with the established Dettori Drive in full effect. Poptronic ran another career best to finish third for trainer Karl Burke. 

Race Three: The Sky Bet Hambleton Handicap - Class Two - 1 mile - 17 Runners

Winner: CROUPIER (#7) - W. Buick - E & S. Crisford - Invincible Spirit x Aaraamm

Another valuable and fiercely handicap, this time over a mile, saw a lot of the usual suspects arriving at York in what is often a very good trial for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. 
The valuable contest was worth a cool £25,000 to the winner and it was well supported by trainers with some of the best handicappers over a mile making an appearance in the race. Blue For You, winner at the Ebor meeting at York, finished second in many high quality handicaps while last year's winner Cruyff Turn returned to defend his crown. 
A full field of twenty would battle it out for the best spot on the track and the competitive nature meant no prisoners would be taken. The lightly race Assessment caught the eye towards the bottom of the weights for the leading duo of Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute. Carrying the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, the son of group three winner Clinical had raced just four times so far and held the potential of being better than this level. The in form stable of Julie Camacho gave a first start for their new purchase Symbol Of Light, a three time winner for Godolphin and a high profile transfer last year. 

There was drama at the start as hot favourite Assessment bolted out of the stalls and galloped loose around the circuit. Luckily, jockey Ryan Moore had a soft landing and after his riderless tour of the Knavesmire, Assessment was unharmed too. Despair for punters turned to excitement as another well fancied Newmarket raider took the honours. In a three-way photo finish, it would be Croupier who got his nose in front for trainers Ed and Simon Crisford. Ridden by William Buick, he was strong at the finish with horses all around him. Northern Express and Point Lynas joined Croupier on the line, but the judge declared the four year old Croupier the winner. The son of Invincible Spirit was heading the right way last season and after blowing out in a heavy ground Lincoln Handicap on his reappearance, Croupier clearly loved the fast ground on offer here. 

Race Four: The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes - Group Two - 1 mile, 2 furlongs - 11 Runners
Winner: THE FOXES (#11) - O. Murphy - A. Balding - Churchill x Tanaghum
For many, this is the biggest race of the meeting given its illustrious past and high quality. Like the Musidora, the Dante is seen as the premier trial for Epsom and each of the runners will have eyes looking further ahead to the Derby. The ten furlong Group Two is eagerly awaited by many and has provided the winner of the Epsom Derby many times. From the likes of Shahrastani, Reference Point and Erhaab to the likes of Motivator, North Light and Authorized. 
In the past ten years, the Dante has seen Golden Horn win at Epsom, Roaring Lion winning the Eclipse and Hurricane Lane win the Irish Derby and St. Leger. 2022 saw the emergence of the spectacular Desert Crown who won at York on just his second start. Looking incredibly calm for a horse with little experience, he bolted up in both contests. 
The forecast of quick ground would be music to the ears of most trainers as recent trials elsewhere were run in far from ideal conditions. It would give a true guide to their contender's chances for Epsom and the quality in the race spoke for itself. Group winners  were present including The Foxes, winner of the Royal Lodge,  winner of the Zetland Stakes Flying Honours and recent Fielden Stakes winner Canberra Legend. The light grey White Birch, winner of the Derrinstown Stud Trial for John Murphy, added a new angle to the race. The giant King Of Steel was hoping to regain his potential while Epictetus, a recent winner at Epsom had questions to answer under Frankie Dettori. The biggest unknown quantity came from last year's winning stable. Sir Michael Stoute's debut winner Passenger, winner of the Wood Ditton Maiden at Newmarket looked high class and he was supplemented for the race here. The sole Aidan O'Brien representative would be the unbeaten Continuous, winner of an Irish Group Three when last seen, while high class maiden Dancing Magic, Dear My Friend and Killybegs Warrior completed the line up. 

In more drama at the start, the huge King Of Steel reared in the stalls, briefly becoming stuck, but thankfully he escaped unharmed and was withdrawn. That left a field of eleven for the feature race and it provided a great finish. With an even gallop, there was plenty of chances in the final furlong. The Foxes was smuggled up in the pack but emerged with a run on the far side as runner up, the grey White Birch made up a lot of ground on the near side. Meeting in the middle, the two horses put on a great show and it would be The Foxes and Oisin Murphy who would take the Derby and put their name in the Derby picture. The King Power-owned colt has a habit of causing minor upsets as he landed the Royal Lodge as a two-year-old. The half brother to the classy Bangkok was expected to improve on the step up in trip and so it was proved with a game victory. White Birch was very unlucky in defeat after a slow start hampered his race. Third place would be shared between Passenger, who went through all kinds of traffic issues, and Continuous. 

Race Five: The British EBF 40th Anniversary Westow Stakes - Listed Race - 5 furlongs - 10 Runners
Winner: GREAT STATE (#2) - O. Murphy - R. Fahey - Havana Grey x Foxcatcher
This listed event is usually over and done with in a blink of an eye and has won by some high class types in recent years. It is a good indication of how well precocious juveniles have developed over the winter as they begin their three-year-old season. Two years ago, the race was won impressively by Winter Power who would go on to return in August to win the Nunthorpe Stakes in a memorable day. 
Pillow Talk, winner of the Marygate Fillies' Stakes at this meeting last year, returned to York on her seasonal debut and gave her trainer Karl Burke a chance of winning the race for a second year in a row. Owners Clipper Logistics had two runners in the race with the Kevin Ryan-trained Silent Words. Royal Ascot runners up Rocket Rodney and Walbank added class to the field and the pace was likely going to be hot. The unbeaten Changeofmind was highly touted by his shrewd trainer Declan Carroll and this would be a test of his abilities. 
With a few runners seemingly needing the run, the race fit Great State took advantage and landed this valuable listed event to continue his progression. The eye-catching grey gelding had been in good form recently and arrived on the back of two consecutive handicap wins. Giving a spare ride to Oisin Murphy, still on a high after his Dante win, they were an in form partnership. Eventual third Michaela's Boy set some scorching fractions in the early stages and was clear at one stage. Great State and eventual runner up Pillow Talk would run in the leader's slipstream as he began to backpedal. Enjoying a trouble free run, Great State would sprint away to win by two and a half lengths and unlock new horizons in the near future. 

Race Six: The Frank Whittle Partnership EBF Maiden Stakes - Class Two - 6 furlongs - 10 Runners
Winner: CUBAN THUNDER (#2) - K. Stott - D. Ffrench Davis - Profitable x Grace Rafaela

Just like the previous day's novice over five furlongs, this class two event for two year olds was well supported and looked very informative for the future. With the focus being more on stamina than speed, Royal Ascot will likely be on the agenda for a lot of these runners. For the newcomers, there were some beautifully bred debutants on display. Aidan O'Brien ran his previous runner-up Emperor Of Rome here, an expensive colt related to the smart Robin Hood. The blue silks of Godolphin were represented by newcomers Impressive Act, a colt by Dubawi and the classy filly Dabyah. There was slightly more form on offer than yesterday's novice race and the Amo Racing-owned Cuban Thunder was also second on debut for Dominic Ffrench Davis who looked very green on his first start. 

Some of the big interest in the race was lost as the Aidan O'Brien runner Emperor Of Rome was announced as a non runner, but the remaining ten were still an exciting bunch. The race would see a very smart performance by the winner, Cuban Thunder. The all blue Godolphin silks took an early lead courtesy of Impressive Act as Cuban Thunder and We Never Stop chased behind. The first three in the race barely changed, but Cuban Thunder showed a smart turn of foot to overcome Impressive Act with We Never Stop back in third. 
A runner up on debut, Cuban Thunder is the son of King's Stand winner Profitable and a trip to Royal Ascot looks to be all but confirmed after this display. Well regarded by his owners Amo Racing, he looked much like the finished article here and is exciting.  

Race Seven: The Collective Green Energy Handicap - Class Three - 1 mile, 4 furlongs - 11 Runners

Winner: CHESSPIECE (#1) - R. Moore -  S & E. Crisford - Nathaniel x Royal Solitaire

A race which was ran last year on the Friday of the meeting, it has provided some quality types for the future. Last year's winner Al Qareem went on to win a Group Two in France while dual Royal Ascot winner Baghdad also won this race along the way. 
For the second day in a row, the contest looked tricky to find the winner of as plenty of in form runners had improved for the step up to the twelve furlong distance. The in form stable of James Ferguson is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the staying division and he sent up Land Legend, a wide margin winner over shorter but a potentially smart type. The Godolphin outfit ran two of their horses, Tabaretta and High Honour, both of whom had spent time on the all weather recently. The Andrew Balding trained Torre Del Oro had progressed nicely last year and returned with a bang last month with a wide margin win. He looked a long distance type in the making. 
The race would be won impressively by a horse with all the right entries. Chesspiece, an entrant in the Derby and multiple races at Royal Ascot, lived up to his reputation with a strong staying performance. The early pace was generous and the horses would finish strung out like washing on the home straight. Racing prominently, the son of Nathaniel travelled well throughout and challenged at the furlong marker. He showed bags of stamina and stayed on strongly to win this informative handicap in the style of a much better class of horse. The colt, trained in Newmarket by the Crisfords, had previously finished third to Military Order, leading player in the Derby, and was able to say checkmate to his rivals. Land Legend would stay on well for second, a good effort in defeat and Rathgar bravely held on for third after helping to set the pace early on.