Chabal can flex Derby muscles in York's Dante

SAEED bin Suroor is confident Chabal is in peak condition as he chases a third success in the totesport Dante Stakes at York today.

Godolphin's principal trainer has saddled Classic Cliche (1995) and Moon Ballad (2002) to win what is traditionally one of the best trials for the Epsom Derby, and he appears to have another live contender in Chabal.

The former Jim Bolger inmate made a winning debut in the famous royal blue silks in last month's bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown and his trainer has been thrilled with his subsequent progression. "I was pleased with the way Chabal won at Sandown and he came out of that race in very good order," Bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com. "His last piece of work went very well and he is ready to race again.

"He's taking a step up in class now and it looks like it will be a tough race to win. But he goes there in good form and I am looking to see him run a good race at York."

Michael Bell trained Motivator to win both the Dante and the Derby five years ago and heads to York with Coordinated Cut, who made a winning debut for the yard in Newmarket's 250000 Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy. "He's taking on a lot of horses who have big aspirations tomorrow, but he's one of them so we'll so how he gets on," said Bell. "They are five very, very decent opponents so we'll just have to see what happens.

"There are no comparisons with Motivator, apart from the fact they are by the same stallion (Montjeu] and they are both very good horses. It wouldn't be fair on Motivator to draw comparisons yet as this horse hasn't even won a Listed race."

Aidan O'Brien won the Dante 12 months ago with Black Bear Island and is this year responsible for the unbeaten Cape Blanco.

The talking horse of the race is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce, who is disputing favouritism with Chabal, despite having been off the track since winning a Goodwood maiden in September.

"We are keen to get Workforce's season started. He is not spectacular at home, but he has been giving us more encouragement of late," said Stoute.

Circumvent represents Paul Cole, having finished third in the Prix la Force at Longchamp. Completing the line-up is the David Elsworth-trained Fair Trade, an honourable tenth in 2000 Guineas.

Bell, meanwhile, does not believe the ground will be an issue when last year's Oaks heroine Sariska makes her eagerly awaited seasonal reappearance in the totesport.com Middleton Oaks.

Lady Bamford's four-year-old missed an engagement at the Newmarket Guineas meeting due to a minor setback, but Bell could not be happier with her current condition.

Due to her effortless performance to win the Irish Oaks on soft ground last summer, many believe her optimum conditions are in the wet, but Bell is not one of those. "From what I've heard, it is very nice ground and we are very keen to run her, she's in tremendous form," he said.

At York yesterday, Aviate finished with a rattle to give Henry Cecil his ninth success in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

Sent off at 11-4 following success at Ascot last month, the filly was boxed in behind the leaders heading inside the final two furlongs. Outsider Gold Bubbles looked the likely winner when striking the front inside the final furlong but once the gap came, Aviate showed an electric turn of foot under Eddie Ahern to get up right on the line.