YORK REPORT: TARTAN BEARER and Ryan Moore flew up the Knavesmire to dent a few lofty reputations in the totesport.com Dante Stakes at York yesterday. Michael Stoute's charge was sent off at 10 to 1 for the ever-informative Derby trial as the Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over left the starting stalls as a well-supported 4 to 6 favourite.

Godolphin's McCartney applied the early pace but the entire field were covered by no more than a few lengths as the tempo really quickened in the straight.

Twice Over moved menacingly into a challenging position soon after, but Frozen Fire and Stoute's winner were quickly on the scene as the others began to give way.

The latter two edged ahead of Cecil's charge when push came to shove and the runners fanned out across the track.

And as they passed the post it was the former who held a crucial head advantage, while Twice Over had to settle for a well-held third.

Stoute said: "It was a pleasing performance and he's progressed so well since Leicester.

"He's travelled so well and he doesn't overdo it when he gets there but it's a learning process and he was in front long enough so it will have taught him a bit.

"He will go (to Epsom) and of my others Tajaaweed will go but we still have to discuss whether Doctor Fremantle does too."

Moore added: "The boss had him spot-on. When he got to the front he just idled, but he really knuckled down in the last furlong and stuck his neck out when the O'Brien horse (Frozen Fire) came to him - he's a very honest horse.

"I can't see why he wouldn't (act round Epsom), but it's early days. He'll stay I think."

The winner sports the famous colours of Ballymacoll Stud, for whom Stoute's North Light won the Dante before going on to Vodafone Derby success at Epsom in 2004. The stud's general manager Peter Reynolds said: "I was hoping, rather than expecting. Michael has always liked the horse, but it is a big ask to win a maiden at Leicester and then come here.

"We have had a lot of success, we are very fortunate - Michael has done a fantastic job. His brother (Golan) didn't do very well there but he has done it very well today and that's all we can ask."

Frozen Fire's rider Johnny Murtagh said: "He has run a great race. We always thought he had a lot of ability, but we don't know what happened to him in his last race.

"I thought I was going to win, but Ryan just got me on the line.

"It was a mile and a quarter and his first race of the year, whereas Ryan's horse had run before this season."

Slight doubts surrounded Twice Over's participation in the key trial, with fast ground causing some concern for connections.

But Cecil was not inclined to use conditions as an excuse and was left disappointed by the eclipse of his previously-unbeaten colt, with whom he skipped the 2,000 Guineas in favour of a Derby preparation.

He said: "I am not blaming the ground as all the others went on it. He came there and emptied out and he was disappointing really.

"Whether he needs to come back in distance or not I don't know. It is up to the Prince (Khalid Abdullah), but I don't think he will run in the Derby after that."