THE rain relented at York on Thursday but the ground was still too soft for leading Derby contender Cracksman, who was withdrawn several hours before the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes.

Victory went to 10/1 chance Permian, the horse he had beaten by inches in the Epsom Trial. Mark Johnston’s colt led inside the final furlong and kept on well for Franny Norton to beat surprise 4/1 favourite Benbatl by three-quarters of a length, with Crystal Ocean only half a length away in third.