Sir Michael Stoute landed his second Derby trial at Chester this week when Sheikh Hamdan's Tajaaweed (Dynaformer - Uforia, by Zilzal) outbattled the Henry Cecil-trained Unnefer to win the Group Three Dee Stakes over 1m2f of the Roodee.

Drawn 8 of 8, Tajaaweed settled well off the early pace for Richard Hills, before making ground on the home turn and diving for the inside at the top of the short Chester straight. He showed a decent turn of foot to fight off the persistent challenge of Unnefer, who looked to have the lead at one point but was outbattled to go down by a short head. Achill Island was five lengths back in third.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, told Channel 4 Racing: "He's a great big horse so it was nice to see him handle the track as well as he did and to see him progress from two to three. I thought the second horse had slipped him and I thought he knuckled down really well.

"I think he'll come on for today and the experience will stand him in good stead. I'm sure, unless something goes wrong, we'd be silly not to consider the Derby."

Of Unnefer, Cecil said: "He didn't quite get it in the last half-furlong. He did everything right but the other horse outstayed him. He wants soft ground so we will pick and choose his races from here."

By Dynaformer, the sire of last season's St Leger winner Lucarno, Tajaaweed is out of a half sister to Mr Greeley. He made his debut in a Nottingham maiden last October, where he trounced his rivals by five lengths. Thrown into the Group One Racing Post Trophy a fortnight later, his inexperience showed as he ran poorly.