THE Queen’s hopes of a Derby winner were kept alive after Carlton House won the totesport Dante Stakes at York Racecourse.

Aureole’s second to Pinza in 1953, Coronation year, is the closest Her Majesty has come to winning the Epsom Classic, but she will now travel to the famous Downs next month with the favourite.

It was trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s sixth victory in York’s Group 2 feature race, the leading marker for Derby glory.

Twice before, with Shahrastani and North Light, he has used victory on Knavesmire as a springboard for success in the Blue Riband contest.

In a slowly-run race, which jockey Ryan Moore described as “messy”, Carlton House (11-4) was given a strong ride to see off the Aidan O’Brien-trained Seville by a length and a half.

Pisco Sour set the pace with Carlton House and Henry Cecil’s much-fancied World Domination not settling early on.

The race wound up after the runners went across to the stands side in the straight and Seville got the rail.

World Domination eventually weakened and Moore was momentarily forced to wait for a gap on Carlton House.

Once it came, however, he took him through and went head-to-head with Seville – getting on top in the final furlong.

Moore said: “It was a horrible race as they didn’t go at any pace. Nobody’s learned a great deal.

“He still showed a very good turn of foot. His work has been very good at home. It’s only his third race and it’s a nice race to win.”

Stoute added: “I am very pleased with him. We thought it would be a messy race and it certainly turned out to be that. He learned a bit and I was delighted.

“He went through a tight opening and let’s hope he can progress a bit more than that.

“We had him ready for this as we couldn’t find a race prior to the Dante.

“I would be surprised if the trip was a problem in the Derby.”