Sussex trainer John Dunlop fired two of his possible Classic guns early in the new season and hit the target with both.

While Olden Times was winning at Newmarket and Silver Grey Lady at Newbury, the Arundel handler could easily be forgiven for having more than half an eye on Epsom in June.

Without doubt the pair are regarded as two of the best three-year-olds at Castle Stables and successes on their seasonal debuts did nothing to alter that view.

The Darshaan colt Olden Times, fourth on his only run as a two-year-old, was a well-backed 11-4 favourite for the listed Fielden Stakes.

He did not let down his supporters, prevailing by a short head from outsider Sunny Glen and earning a best-priced quote of 33-1 for the Derby.

Olden Times will now follow a favoured Dunlop route to Epsom and head for the Dante Stakes at York, a well recognised Classic trial.

The trainer hopes that race will determine whether the horse has the stamina to handle the one-and-a-half mile trip of the Derby.

There are doubts on his breeding, but the way he races suggests the distance will be within his compass. The Dante Stakes next month should give the answer.

Stamina, however, is not a concern for Dunlop's Oaks candidate Silver Grey Lady, a full sister to the stable's St Leger winner and Derby runner-up Silver Patriarch.

She made her seasonal debut, and third racecourse appearance, in a hot-looking 1m 2f Newbury maiden and absolutely whizzed in.

Jockey Pat Eddery never had a moment's worry as the 10-1 shot landed the £5,000 winner's prize by six lengths.

Silver Grey Lady earned a 20-1 quote for the Oaks at Epsom where the extra two furlongs will be right up her street.

The filly's success helped Dunlop complete a 230-1 treble at Newbury with the five-year-old Lucido and three-year-old Shaandar.

Lucido, a big disappointment when strongly fancied for the Derby two seasons ago, failed to recapture any sort of form last year, but is back as good as ever now.

He turned the Group Three John Porter Stakes into a procession and will now step up to Group One company.

The Dunlop duo of Olden Times (33-1) and Silver Grey Lady (20-1) could well be his representatives in the Derby and the Oaks this year. The ante post odds for the double are over 700-1.