DILSHAAN is a solid selection to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute his third victory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom tomorrow.

Stoute hit the mark with the legendary Shergar in 1981, while Sharastani followed suit five years later.

And he has a enviably strong hand this time around with Golan, winner of the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, completing a dual raid on the blue riband for theFreemason Lodge handler.

Golan has been all the rage for the race since his Guineas win, where heshowed speed in abundance to cut down his rivals in a virtually last-to-first move on the Rowley Mile.

That performance prompted superlatives from jockey Kieren Fallon but the rider will not be aboard tomorrow after landing himself in hot water with the Ayr stewards last week.

However, Dilshaan is a highly-progressive individual in his own right as he showed when landing York's Dante Stakes, which has produced recent Epsom winners in Benny The Dip and Erhaab, as well as last year's runner-up, Sakhee.

He tracked leader Celtic Silence before going to the front a furlong from home and ran on in determined fashion to repel the runner-up by half a length.

Dilshaan was only really getting into top gear towards the end and looks sure to relish the extra two furlongs at Epsom.

A son of French Derby winner Darshaan, the Saeed Suhail-owned colt was no back number as a two-year-old either, as he showed when cutting down his field in the Racing Post Trophy on only his second career outing to win going away.

Dilshaan simply brushed aside subsequent 2000 Guineas runner-up Tamburlaine, who finished two and a half lengths in arrears after looking the likely winner two furlongs out.

His win in the Dante has been given a welcome boost by the Group One success of Olden Times in France on Sunday, who was four lengths behind Dilshaan at York.

Golan could well be a great horse in the making but the speed he showed over a mile must surely cast doubt as to whether he can se Dilshaan home.

Dante third Storming Home was doing his best work at the finish and could follow the front two at a price. The Machiavellian colt is potentially a big improver at 12 furlongs, having only attempted trips in excess of a mile twice -- his fine Dante effort and a win over the undulating Epsom track in the Blue Riband trial.

Recent Windsor winner Resplendent Cee has Royal Ascot in his sights and can take the Vodafone Woodcote Stakes for Peter Harris.