Bek given Dante date

Hala Bek is to go on trial for the Vodafone Derby in the totesport Dante Stakes at York next week.

The Michael Jarvis-trained colt won his only start to date when he landed a Newbury maiden in good style last month.

The son of Halling was well-supported in the betting for the blue riband yesterday, with Coral and Ladbrokes cutting his premier Classic odds to 10-1 from 14-1 while Stan James go the same price from 16-1.

“He worked on Wednesday morning. It wasn’t a tough piece of work but he worked nicely,” Jarvis said. “He’s a very clean-winded horse and I was satisfied with what he’s done.

“He runs in the Dante and he would have to win the Dante or run a very good race to take his chance at Epsom.

“We are taking it day by day but both the owner (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum) and myself don’t like going to Classics with no-hopers.

“So we’ll see how he runs and take it from there. But he is a nice horse and might be an even better four-year-old.”