Downhiller's up for the big prize at Chester

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The Arundel yard has sent out four winners and three placed horses from their last 10 runners and the improving four-year-old looks set for a decent future in the top long-distance races.

Dunlop is as much of a pragmatist as he is a traditionalist. While he has saddled top stayers such as Millenary, Give Notice, San Sebastian and Celeric - plus 2002 Chester Cup winner Fantasy Hill - the master of Castle House Stables realises that trips in excess of two miles are outdated.

He was one of the prime movers in campaigning to get the Ascot Gold Cup reduced to two miles a few years ago.

"We don't breed enough Derby horses these days, never mind stayers," he said. "Two and a half miles, the Gold Cup distance for example, is not relevant in this day and age."

But the commercial desire to breed faster, earlier horses, has not stopped Dunlop trying to fill a hole in the market and Downhiller looks an ideal type for tomorrow's two-mile and two-furlong trip.

The Alhaarth colt improved for his seasonal debut when grinding out victory over two miles at Ripon, getting the better of Wells Lyrical, although he tackles a trip beyond two miles for the first time.

Downhiller's jockey Eddie Ahern said: "He is still a young horse, but he is in good form and he travelled well at Ripon.

"He is still learning, but he did it nicely and we had a bit in hand at the line. I think he will improve for that."