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Thady Gosden is hopeful that both Damysus and Nightwalker can prove up to the task of being competitive in Saturday’s Epsom Derby.

Having finished second and fifth respectively behind the reopposing Pride Of Arras in the Dante Stakes at York last month, both Damysus and Nightwalker head to Epsom as double-figure prices.

However, Thady Gosden, who trains the pair in partnership with his father John, is hopeful they can take the step forward that is required to be competitive on the Downs come Saturday afternoon.

"The Dante looked like a solid trial," said Thady Gosden. "We ended up in front with Devil's Advocate which wasn't initially the plan, but they didn't go overly quick. Our pair (Damysus and Nightwalker) were running on well at the end though.

"There wasn't much pace to run at. Damysus was quite far back but he was finishing great. The winner won well but he slightly slipped the field that day.

"He ran a nice race the start before at Sandown and he's improved with each start. Hopefully, he can take another step forward again."

The son of Frankel shaped as though he would appreciate stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time, something Thady Gosden hopes will bring out further improvement from the Wathnan Racing-owned Classic contender.

Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, he added: "The mother was a smart mile and a half performer in France, so the pedigree definitely points towards him getting every inch of the trip.

"He's still a relatively inexperienced horse but he's got a great mind, he doesn't worry about much and takes it all in. He's improved in terms of fitness, and he's sharpened up in both his training and his races."

Stablemate and fellow son of Frankel, Nightwalker, finished just two and a quarter lengths behind Damysus in the Dante Stakes, keeping on strongly through the line under Rab Havlin after finding himself outpaced with a couple of furlongs to travel.

"Nightwalker has come out of the Dante in very good form," said Thady Gosden. "I'd expect him to stay too, with a brilliant Juddmonte staying pedigree behind him. We had another grey, Logician, on the page, so hopefully he'll get the trip well.

"He's got plenty of size and quality about him. He looks like the right type.

"He's a horse that we inherited from Sir Michael Stoute at the start of the year. He showed some good form then and has run nicely through the spring.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained duo suffered varying fortunes at Wednesday's Epsom Derby draw, with Nightwalker handed gate five and Damysus drawn wide in stall fifteen.

Gosden commented: "It's a nice draw for Nightwalker and he breaks well. Damysus is a little wider than ideal, but it's a big field, so we'll see how they break and go from there. James Doyle certainly knows his way around there.

Last year's Autumn Stakes third, Nightwalker, will sport cheekpieces for the first time in Saturday's Epsom Derby, with Thady Gosden hoping they can improve his chances.

He added: "They're just to help him along a bit. It's just to help focus him and keep him on the straight.

"We think they'll have the right effect on him on the day."