PAT Smullen will ride the Epsom Derby favourite Midterm in the Dante Stakes at York next Thursday.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Midterm is owned by Khalid Abdullah and had Ryan Moore in the plate when he won the Sandown Classic Trial last month.

However, Moore will be required to ride one of the five Aidan O’Brien-trained Dante entries, allowing Smullen the opportunity to strengthen his ties with the Juddmonte team. Smullen rode Snow Sky to win at Royal Ascot last year for Midterm’s connections.

Midterm is by Galileo out of the multiple Group 1 winner Midterm. Unbeaten in two starts, the colt was promoted to Derby favourite this week following the unimpressive display by former market leader US Army Ranger in the Chester Vase.

O’Brien’s five Dante entries are Black Sea, Bravery, Claudio Monteverdi, Deauville and Shogun, though the last-named runs at Leopardstown on Sunday. Stoute has also left Ulysses in the Group 2 race over a mile and a quarter.

Foundation had been at the head of the Derby market but needs a big performance on the Knavesmire after suffering odds-on defeats in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and on his return to action at Newmarket. His trainer John Gosden could also saddle Wings Of Desire.

Kentuckyconnection finished fifth at big odds in the 2000 Guineas and could run for Yorkshire trainer Bryan Smart. Choreographer impressed on his Windsor debut and has been given the option by Roger Varian, while Muntazah posted some good efforts as a juvenile and has been targeted for the Dante by Owen Burrows. O’Brien has five entries in Wednesday’s Musidora Stakes, an Oaks trial, and Jim Bolger has two. The Ballydoyle quintet is headed by recent Navan listed winner Pretty Perfect.