FOUNDATION and Midterm, who are Betfred’s 12/1 market leaders for the Investec Derby, are both among an impressive 88-strong entry for the Betfred Dante Stakes, to be run at York on Thursday, May 12.

The £160,000 Group 2 race – one of the highlights of York’s season-opening Dante Festival from May 11 to May 13, and recognised by many as the premier Derby trial – has attracted 19 more entries than at the same stage 12 months ago.

The 2015 renewal saw Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs finish first and second – just as they did the following month at Epsom.

That pair were saddled by John Gosden and the Newmarket-based trainer is represented by no fewer than ten colts at the initial entry stage this season.

One of those is Foundation, who was a high-class two-year-old. He landed the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket before finishing a luckless third in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy.

Foundation already has a clutch of big-race entries for the season ahead and Gosden said: “He is coming along fine.”

Sir Michael Stoute is no stranger to success in the Dante Stakes – he has so far sent out six horses to win the mile-and-a-quarter-race. Stoute has given the entry to four horses this time around, including Midterm.

The beautifully bred son of Galileo, out of multiple Group 1-winning mare Midday, caught the eye when scoring on his debut at Newbury last October.

Stoute indicated no plans had been set in stone for him yet but said: “I am happy with the colt."

Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle powerhouse is responsible for no fewer than 21 of the entries. Godolphin are also strongly represented, by 14 horses.

Trainer Hugo Palmer has nominated two from his growing operation – Mengli Khan and Galileo Gold.

The latter, who proved himself very good when winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, is set to have a Guineas as his main spring target – but stable-mate Mengli Khan may contest the Dante.

Palmer is expecting his charge to bounce back this season from a below-par effort in the Racing Post Trophy.

He said: “Mengli Khan was disappointing at Doncaster but the ground was too soft for him. He has done really well over the winter. He is a full-brother to Very Special who is now a multiple Group winner in Dubai. I think a mile and a quarter will be at least his trip, so the Dante is a possibility.

“Galileo Gold’s season is to start in a Guineas. Because he wants a little more give in the ground than he is possibly likely to get here in Newmarket, the plan, really for quite a long time, has been the French Guineas.”

Trainer Marco Botti has entered Mr Khalid, a Nottingham maiden winner by a wide-margin. This unexposed son of Pour Moi may be asked to prove himself worthy of a Dante spot with a handicap outing at Newmarket’s Craven meeting.

Botti said: “He has done tremendously well over the winter. Physically, he’s a different horse to last year – much stronger and he has grown.

“I hope to maybe start him in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap at the Craven meeting to see if he could be a potential Group horse. Whether he is up to that level, we will take it step by step and find out.”