DYNAMIC duo Kieren Fallon and Aidan O'Brien head to Chester tomorrow aiming to advertise their chances of winning next month's Vodafone Derby at Epsom.

They christened their new association in resounding style last weekend by completing a Guineas double at Newmarket with Footstepsinthesand and Virginia Waters.

Tomorrow their challenger is Gypsy King in the Dee Stakes, a stepping-stone to Britain's top Classic race.

A son of Sadler's Wells, Gypsy King won his only start as a juvenile, a maiden race at Leopardstown last autumn, in pleasing style.

Clearly held in very high regard at Ballydoyle, he may not be well known outside of Ireland at present, but victory in tomorrow's Group 3 race could well project him into the Derby headlines with the prospect of becoming a household name. He is certainly not one to underestimate.

Cape Royal is fancied to take plenty of catching in the opening Vcbet Handicap over five furlongs.

Previously trained by Lynda Ramsden, Cape Royal is now with sprint specialist Milton Bradley, who placed him to win at Doncaster in March.

The five-year-old latterly finished a close-up third to his half-brother Bishops Court at Epsom and is fancied to turn those tables here.

Bishops Court, trained by Ramsden, carries the colours of Whitwell-on-the-Hill owner David Brotherton, the former owner-breeder of Cape Royal, who he sold last year.

Several jockeys in action at Chester tomorrow afternoon will be flying up to Hamilton's evening meeting, among them Paul Hanagan and Kevin Darley, both of whom look likely to figure on the scoreboard.

Malton-based Hanagan has good prospects of winning on the promising Along The Nile for Lynda Ramsden in the Mitie Scottish Handicap, while Darley can score on Peppermint Tea and River Of Babylon for Newmarket trainer Michael Bell.

River Of Babylon failed to get a clear run at Southwell last time, but finished to some effect in sixth place. She should go well in the Mitie Mile Fillies' Handicap.

Norton apprentice Tom Eaves rides my Nap selection Compton Classic in the Mitie Handicap. Jim Goldie's sprinter showed he was coming to hand when finishing a close-up fourth at Hamiltonn recently. He is open to further improvement.

Tomorrow's tips

Chester

1.30 Cape Royal, 2.00 Gypsy King, 2.30 Lochbuie, 3.00 Balavista, 3.35 Into The Shadows, 4.10 Ginger Spice.

Hamilton

6.10 Bundy, 6.40 Compton Classic (Nap), 7.10 Along The Nile, 7.40 Peppermint Tea, 8.10 River Of Babylon, 8.40 Mount Usher.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Lingfield (afternoon, Flat), Nottingham (afternoon, Flat) and Wincanton (evening, National Hunt).

Updated: 11:24 Thursday, May 05, 2005