Eight runners have been declared for the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

The prestigious race has seen 11 previous winners land the Epsom Derby, the most recent being Desert Crown in 2022. Worth £180,000, has attracted runners from a clutch of powerhouse stables, including Christmas Day and Action from trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base.

Joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden (who were responsible for Golden Horn the 2015 dual winner) will also have two in the race in the shape of unexposed pair Guildmaster and Wise Prince.

Likewise, Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby will be double-handed with Al Zanati and King’s Trail declared.

Kingsclere handler Andrew Balding will be represented by Item, winner of both his races at two, whilst Yorkshireman William Haggas sends Morshdi, successful in last month’s Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

Christmas Day - the mount of Ryan Moore - is the 9/4 favourite. The Camelot colt was a surprise winner of the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month. The value of that form is hard to assess. Runner-up Endorsement finished a close third in the Leopardstown Derby Trial last Sunday, just behind James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard, both of whom were down the field in the Ballysax.

The William Haggas-trained Morshdi is second favourite for the Dante at odds of 4/1. By Dubawi, he won the nine-furlong Fielden Stakes at Newmarket last month by a length.

Action, closely related to last year's dual Derby winner Lambourn, is a 5/1 shot. The mount of Wayne Lordan at York, the Frankel colt was a disappointing fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial on his seasonal reappearance.

Colin Keane is aboard the unbeaten Item, trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte. Another son of Frankel, Item won two minor events last season at Kempton and Bath.

William Buick has opted to ride King's Trail, who finished ninth in the 2000 Guineas. The colt is by Sea The Stars out of a Dubawi mare.