Hurricane Lane will go to Epsom for the Cazoo Derby next month as the best chance ofan English-trained winner, after Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin colt beat Megallan, a French Derby candidate, by three-parts of a length in yesterday’s Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

Named after a weather pattern which tore across Hawaii in 2018, it remains to be seen if Hurricane Lane can take Epsom by storm. But he has one thing in his favour; he is unbeaten in three starts and, though there is nothing flashy about the chestnut son of Frankel’s style of racing, he gets the job done and in my book a winning habit is worth something.

Yesterday he finished well on top with his ears pricked, suggesting more in the tank if required.

His style, however, was never going to bowl the bookmakers over. They shortened him into 6/1 but most of them left yesterday’s third, High Definition, which finished two lengths away, a shorter price (9/2) after his interrupted preparation. Bolshoi Ballet remains the worthy 2/1 favourite.

But High Definition ran a bit like he did as a two-year-old, pushed along from a long way out before staying on, and I wonder if he has the tactical speed to win a Derby.

The extra quarter-mile will suit High Definition, but he one wonders if coming down Tattenham Corner for him will be a bit like taking a sharp corner in an articulated lorry, especially if he is flat out doing it.

It is three weeks to the Derby and “the lads” (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier) will no doubt want to discuss it, but it would be a surprise on this evidence if Ryan Moore jumped ship from Bolshoi Ballet.

William Buick – who won the Dante on Golden Horn and the Derby on Masar – likened Hurricane Lane’s profile to Golden Horn’s, though he said that horse, 2015 Derby winner under Frankie Dettori, was pacier.

“This horse goes through the gears more gradually,” he said. “Golden Horn was having his third run [and third win] here too, and if he can do the same I’ll take that. The Dante’s usually a good trial, he’ll improve for a mile and a half – he will stay. Everything he does, he does right. He’s a lovely horse to be around. When he got company he battled.

“He’s improved with every run, he’s answered every single call. It was a solid-run trial run at an end-to-end gallop. He’s well balanced and though he has only run at relatively kind tracks, I’m not worried about him handling Epsom.” © Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]