Tartan new Derby favourite

TARTAN BEARER added a degree of clarity to the Vodafone Derby picture as Michael Stoute saddled him to victory in an informative renewal of the totesport.com Dante Stakes at York.

With former ante-post favourite New Approach unlikely to take in the Classic and Sunday’s Derrinstown trial winner Casual Conquest needing to be supplemented, the blue riband was in desperate need of the emergence of a rock-solid contender.

And emerge it did in the shape of a full brother to 2000 Guineas and King George hero Golan, who himself finished runner-up to Galileo in the 2001 Derby.