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Ratings: Update: Pride of Arras the pick of classic trial winners 5r6p6y

Tony McFadden provides the key Timeform ratings reaction from York's Dante Festival and Newbury's Lockinge meeting. 3e6i31

Pride of Arras (Timeform rating 119p from 92P) was taking a big step up in class on his reappearance in the Dante Stakes having won a Sandown maiden last August on his only previous outing, but he proved up to the task to establish himself as a leading Derby contender.

Pride of Arras's new Timeform rating marks him out as the pick of the middle-distance classic trial winners this spring, with only 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court (123) rated higher among the Derby contenders. An ordinary pace until halfway in the Dante impacted the overall time and means the bare form can't be rated too highly, but Pride of Arras was value for more than the winning margin given the trouble he met and the ease with which he asserted his authority, so his performance has been upgraded.

Pride of Arras is bidding to follow in the footsteps of North Light, Motivator, Authorized, Golden Horn and Desert Crown who all won the Dante and Derby this century. Desert Crown, the latest horse to do the double, was rated 121p after also winning the Dante on only his second start.