The 2026 Dante Festival at York
The Dante Meeting at York Racecourse is one of the most influential early-season Flat festivals in the UK calendar, offering punters and racing fans a first serious look at the Epsom Derby and Oaks contenders.
Staged over three days in May, the meeting is headlined by the Group 2 Dante Stakes, long regarded as one of the most reliable Derby trials in Europe.
Dante Meeting 2026: Dates & Schedule
The 2026 Dante Meeting takes place:
- Wednesday 13 May – Friday 15 May 2026
Key race days:
- Day 1 (Wednesday): Musidora Stakes (Oaks trial)
- Day 2 (Thursday): Dante Stakes (Derby trial feature)
- Day 3 (Friday): Yorkshire Cup (stayers’ highlight)
Across the three days, punters can expect high-quality Group action mixed with competitive handicaps.
Feature Races
Dante Stakes (Group 2) – Derby Trial Centrepiece
The Dante Stakes is the headline race of the meeting and one of the strongest Epsom Derby indicators of the season.
Musidora Stakes (Group 3) – Oaks Trial
The Musidora Stakes is the key pointer towards the Epsom Oaks, attracting progressive fillies from leading stables.
Yorkshire Cup (Group 2) – Stayers Feature
A key staying contest over 1m 6f, often featuring hardened Group performers.
Runners to Watch (Early Contenders)
With declarations in for the first two days of the three-day meeting, we are starting to see a clearer picture of who will be lining up at York throughout the week.
Derby Trial Contenders (Dante Stakes)
Eight runners have been declared for the Dante Stakes at 16:05 on Thursday.
- Action – TBC/Aidan O’Brien
- Al Zanati – Billy Loughnane/Charlie Appleby
- Christmas Day – TBC/Aidan O’Brien
- Guildmaster – James Doyle/Charlie Appleby
- Item – Colin Keane/Andrew Balding
- King’s Trail – Will Buick/Charlie Appleby
- Morshdi – Tom Marquand/William Haggas
- Wise Prince – Rob Halvin/John & Thady Gosden
Having won the Ballysax Stakes, an Irish Derby trial, last time out, Christmas Day looks the pick of the Aidan O’Brien runners. O’Brien hasn’t won the Dante Stakes since 2011, when Cape Blanco followed up Black Bear Island’s win in the race a year earlier.
Morshdi represents trainer William Haggas, who won this two years ago with the high-class sort Economics. Charlie Appleby is seeking a first win since 2021 (Hurricane Lane), while Andrew Balding has just one runner in the unbeaten Item.
Oaks Trial Fillies (Musidora Stakes)
A field of six has been declared for the 16:05 at York on Wednesday.
- Della Pace – Jamie Spencer/George Boughey
- Felicitas – Kieran Shoemark/Ed Walker
- K Sarra – Rossa Ryan/Ralph Beckett
- Legacy Link – Colin Keane/John & Thady Gosden
- Moments Of Joy – Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien
- Sea The Storm – Tom Marquand/William Haggas
Aidan O’Brien won this last year with Whirl and is represented this time by last year’s Royal Ascot Chesham third, Moments Of Joy.
Six-time Irish Champion jockey Colin Keane will ride the favourite, Legacy Link, for the Gosden’s, who have prevailed twice in the last four years. However, there have only been three winning favourites in the last nine editions of this race.
Felicitas is the only unbeaten filly in the field as she puts her two-from-two record on the line.
Yorkshire Cup
Declerations will be confirmed for the Yorkshire Cup on Wednesday morning. The stayers race takes place on Friday at 16:05.
As it stands, last season’s Irish St. Leger second, Amiloc is among the potential star contenders for trainer Ralph Beckett.
Dante Meeting 2026 TV Coverage
ITV Racing
- Selected races broadcast live on ITV4
- Includes Dante Stakes, Musidora Stakes, Yorkshire Cup
Racing TV
- Full live coverage of all 21 races
- Expert analysis and replays throughout the festival
Live Streaming
Every race from York’s Dante Festival, including the feature Dante Stakes, can be streamed live on the BAR 1 Betting website & app.
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