John Dunlop celebrates his 40th anniversary at Castle Stables this year.

The Arundel trainer was reminded of the milestone as he prepared for the new turf flat season which opens at Doncaster next Thursday.

He said: "It was in the summer of 1963 that I came to Castle Stables to train for the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk.

"But my head lad, Eddie Watt, has been here even longer because he worked for my predecessor, Gordon Smyth."

Since those far-off days, Dunlop has been champion trainer more than once and saddled classic winners, including two in The Derby.

He has also secured more than 100 winners and a million pounds in prize money in several seasons.

Now, having watched his elder son Edward make a success of training in Newmarket, he welcomes back his younger son Harry to Arundel as assistant trainer.

Last winter, Dunlop survived a close brush with death when he suffered a ruptured artery.

He was saved by the quick thinking and skill of his own doctor and surgeons at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester and was back in harness in time for the opening of the season.

But when asked when he will retire he replies with a terse: "Not yet."

He clearly means it.

There are several factors contributing to Dunlop's longevity as a trainer. He has always enjoyed the distractions of his show horses and beef shorthorn cattle. He said: "It's an ambition to win first prize at the Royal Show."

Also, John and his wife Sue are not averse to taking more than one short holiday during the season. But most of all, he is willing to delegate responsibility to trusted staff in the stable yard.

Only Mark Johnstone and Sir Michael Stoute have more than the 160 horses trained by Dunlop.

Dunlop said: "We have three separate yards and in each of these there is a head lad and his deputy.

"Eddie Watt is the overall head lad and the senior travelling man is the experienced Robert Hamilton who has filled half-a-dozen passports during his years at Castle Stables.

"It's a good team and while there is the inevitable turnover in the lower ranks, so many of the lads and girls have been here a long time and I rely on them 100 per cent."

Dunlop is unusual in that he never asks jockeys to ride work at Arundel.

Pat Eddery, his favoured jockey, has been there only once in a career of more than 30 years.

The only licensed rider who makes a regular appearance is Paul Doe, who lives just ten minutes away and whose cousin, Jason, is a staff work rider.

Having put down a new Polytrack gallop two years ago, which contributed to a best-ever start to a season, Castle Stables horses rarely go on turf until they reach the racetrack.

It is a system that works and means leg problems are few and far between.

The Dunlops have returned from an invigorating holiday in Argentina to find the stables ready for the start of the season.

Dunlop said: "We should have some runners at Doncaster and there have been no hold-ups in the training routine thanks to the Polytrack."

He is non-commital about future Derby runners but has high hopes for Muqbil and Maghanim, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Dunlop said: "Muqbil is by Swain and he won the Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury last back end.

"Maghanim is by Sheikh Hamdan's Derby winner, Nashwan, and he won at Doncaster.

"They are both very nice colts but I am not certain if either will stay the Derby distance and we will know more when they have had a race."

There might be no firm plans for Muqbil and Maghanim but overall the target is more than a 100 winners and a £1m in prize money. They look safe bets to me.