Not many Derbys are run at Epsom without a runner-trained John Dunlop at Arundel.

Tomorrow week's 222nd renewal is one of those rare exceptions and as usual there will be some to satisfy egos of their owners. Dunlop would not think of running a horse in the classic simply for the sake of being there.

But Castle Stables will have two runners with major chances in the two group one races next Friday, Silver Grey Lady, second in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, takes her chances in the Vodaphone Oaks.

She's a full sister to Silver Patriarch, whom Dunlop trained to finish a short head second to Benny The Dip in the 1997 Derby.

Silver Grey Lady has trained well since Lingfield and, with Pat Eddery in the saddle, she has a good each-way chance at a best priced 14-1.

Three-quarters of an hour earlier Dunlop, saddles Millenary in the Coronation Cup for four-year-olds and upwards and, like the Oaks, is run over the one-and-a-half miles of the Derby course.

After winning the one-and-three-quarter-mile St Leger, Millenary returned to one-and-a-half miles at Newmarket last month and scored convincingly.

I expect him to follow in the footsteps of Silver Patriarch, who gained consolation for his Derby defeat the previous year by winning the Coronation Cup in 1998.

Dunlop's record at Epsom is notable. He won the Derby with Shirley Heights in 1978 and Erhaab in 1994 with Silver Patriarch second four years ago.

Also, Sakhee was runner-up to Sinndar last year, Marju second to Generous in 1991 and Mount Athos, his first Derby runner, was third to Sir Ivor in 1968.

Dunlop has won the Oaks twice with Circus Plume in 1984 and Salsabil in 1990 and he also won the Coronation Cup with Sea Chimes in 1980.

On Sunday, with the Castle Stables Open Day in full swing, the Arundel trainer will be represented at Chantilly in the Group One Prix Jean Prat, which immediately follows the French Derby, by Olden Times. A good winner at Newmarket a month ago, Olden Times was only fourth in the Dante Stakes at York.

Castle Stables racing secretary Marcus Hosgood said: "We were disappointed by that, but Pat Eddery is convinced the horse needs firm ground and will get that in France this weekend."

At Windsor tomorrow, Water Jump and Khulan can help to keep the Dunlop name at the head of the trainers' leader board and Chianti has a good chance in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.