Bonfire and Jimmy Fortune (right) beat Ektihaam and Tadhg O Shea to win the Betfred Dante Stakes during the Betfred Dante Stakes Day at York Racecourse, York.

Horse Talk: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news

The Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next month is the immediate target for Dante winner Bonfire who disappointed in the Derby when sent off second favourite.

At Epsom Bonfire failed to build on his impressive York win, finishing sixth, 13 and a half lengths adrift of winner Camelot and a run his trainer Andrew Balding appears willing to forgive.

“Bonfire is likely to come back here for the Eclipse,” Balding said at the Esher track on Friday. “If you put a line through his Derby run he is entitled to run in a race like this. We will know more about where we are from then.”

Balding confirmed the target, just minutes after he had landed the third race on Sandown’s six race card as Operation Chariot made a winning debut when landing the seven furlong Class 5 race for two-year-olds under jockey Jimmy Fortune.

“He is by a son of Sadler’s Wells, out of a Darshaan mare which is a nice cross,” said Balding. “We were more hopeful than confident but Jimmy was quite pleased with him.

“He is a really nice type. He has done everything right at home and will go further in time. His next run may be Newmarket and then back here for the Solario.”

Earlier, rookie trainer Michael O’Callaghan made a winning debut at Sandown when landing the five furlong Class 5 with Bogini who last week at Bath had provided the Irish handler with his first winner since taking out a licence in late April.

“We decided on the way home (from Bath) to take her here so we took her home and freshened her up and gave her a couple of canters,” said O’Callaghan who trains a team of eight in Tipperary.

“She is the first horse that I have brought over here. She won at Bath seven days ago and this is my first visit to Sandown. The next race will probably be in Ireland on June 28 in Tipperary.

“I have had my licence for six weeks and this is my seventh runner and my second winner. We have two older horses and four of five two year olds. We concentrate on breezers and have about 10 broodmares.”

A winner at Sandown also meant a lot to the experienced trainer Mark Brisbourne when scoring with Silvas Romana who battled well to take the one mile Class 4 for jockey Tom McLaughlin.

“It is nice to win a race on a Grade 1 track like this,” Brisbourne said. “We make the best out of what we have got. We have a team of about 30 and there are no superstars. I was hopeful today and she showed plenty of guts. She is very versatile.”