Mujahid is major flop

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's plan to win the City Index Craven Stakes at Newmarket yesterday hit the skids, despite being carried by two very able Dunlops. Mujahid and Mutaahab, trained respectively by John Dunlop and son Ed for the Sheikh, were both declared for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas trial, but with the intent that only one should run, the other to be rerouted to Saturday's Tripleprint (formerly Greenham) Stakes at Newbury.

After a dry night it was Dewhurst Stakes winner Mujahid who stood his ground and Mutaahab who was scratched, earning Dunlop junior a trip to Portman Square for falling foul of Rule 144 (i), which concerns adequate explanations for making a withdrawal.

But the strategy came to nought as Mujahid, the 2 to 5 favourite, could do no better than finish fifth to Compton Admiral.

With over three furlongs of the Bunbury Mile remaining, Richard Hills' arms began to scrub and in strides the favourite was done for.

It was Compton Admiral, trained in Blewbury, Oxon, by Gerard Butler and the mount of Frankie Dettori who came out strongest, holding Brancaster by a length. Debbie's Warning came third, half a length away, with Mensa, who had made the running, fourth.

Butler is in just his second season with a licence and Compton Admiral first made the headlines at Ascot last July when flooring Killer Instinct, the horse touted as Henry Cecil's 2,000 Guineas winner of 1999 before he had even run.

Now the bay is just a 9 to 1 shot with the Tote to give the Co Kildare man victory in that race, run on May 1st. And Ladbrokes quote Compton Admiral at 20 to 1 for the Vodafone Derby on June 5th.

Dunlop senior could offer no explanation for Mujahid's run, saying: "I am completely nonplussed. Richard said he moved beautifully but three out there was nothing there, which was what it looked like."

Barry Hills returned to Lambourn with a double, courtesy of Golden Snake in the Listed Feilden Stakes and Munjiz in the Blue Square Handicap. Both were ridden by his son, and Richard's twin, Michael.

The third jockey to ride a double was Richard Quinn, who took the last two races, the EBF Stuntney Maiden on Alfailak and the concluding Sportsline Conditions Stakes on First Blood.

Listowel was yesterday forced to scrap its three-day meeting this weekend because of waterlogging. The fixture, due to start today, was called off after a lunch-time inspection.