YORKSHIRE winners of the Betfred Dante Stakes are so rare Libertarian was allowed to start at 33-1 before beating Derby aspirants from some of the top British and Irish stables.

Middleham-based couple Elaine and Karl Burke became the first trainers from the county to win the Knavesmire’s important Classic trial since Snowy Gray’s Lucky Brief back in 1962.

While Libertarian did not make much of an impact in the Investec Derby market, the man allowed to smile widely was Jim Bolger, who saddled Trading Leather for second but now sees his unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach as short as even-money favourite with many bookmakers.

Libertarian has always been held in high regard and showed rich promise when landing a maiden on his debut at Pontefract last month, but he would have been largely ignored due to finishing fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial, when admittedly unlucky.

Dashing Star cut out the running with Trading Leather on his tail but the race, which has seen nine winners progress to Epsom glory, was still to develop in earnest by the two-furlong pole.

With Aidan O’Brien pocketing every Derby warm-up of the last fortnight, Indian Chief was the 11-4 favourite, but the trainer’s son Joseph did not receive an immediate response when he had found some space and was passed by Libertarian and William Buick on his inside.

Buick had been one of the first to start pushing but his mount ended up forging a length and a quarter clear of Trading Leather, with Indian Chief three-quarters of a length further back in third.

‘‘It is a great win for the yard and everyone connected with the horse,’’ said Karl Burke. ‘‘I didn’t think he should be 33-1 – I did get some 50s on Wednesday!’’ While Libertarian can be backed at 25-1 with Coral, the best available price on Dawn Approach is Paddy Power and Boylesports’ 5-4.

Course specialist Navajo Chief ran out a clear-cut winner of the Betfred Hambleton Stakes for Alan Jarvis.

Fifth in the race last year, he beat Area Fifty One at the Knavesmire back in June and was racing off a mark only 1lb higher. Michael J Murphy has struck up a good partnership with him and he timed his challenge to perfection, riding his first Listed winner in the process.

The race was run in driving rain, which may have counted against the favourite Two For Two who had every chance on the rail and came home fourth. It was left to Prince Of Johanne and Anderiego to chase home the 12-1 winner, who was a length and a half clear.