This looked a strong three-year-old handicap, yet it was won in extraordinary fashion by a maiden who lost the best part of ten lengths at the start. DUNTULM, second to the well regarded Sugar Mint on his reappearance at Bath, played up in the preliminaries and lost what one would have imagined was far too much ground when standing still as the stalls opened, but Dane O'Neill did not panic and had him going nicely on the heels of the leaders by halfway. When O'Neill made his move Duntulm made very good headway indeed to lead running down into the Dip. He was inclined to edge left once in front but he was not going to be beaten, although two rivals emerged from the rear to make a race of it. Henry Candy admits that Duntulm is a bit of a playboy, but he is clearly a talented miler and he will now be aimed at the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. He will run in the meantime however, and there is a valuable handicap at Haydock which might be ideal. He is evidently regarded a miler pure and simple and is yet another Sakhee with much more speed than one would expect.
FlawedGenius was held up and made his effort on the outside with Perks, who came from last place. Both deserve plenty of credit, for Flawed Genius had not run for eight months and was trying this trip for the first time, while Perks was 12lb higher than when a runaway winner of a soft-ground Doncaster handicap which has worked out well.
The first three came right away of the rest who were headed by Prime Exhibit, a seriously well handicapped colt who once again was not seen to advantage. Dropping back 2f, Prime Exhibit travelled well on the rail behind pace-setter Robby Bobby, but had nowhere to go when it was time to make a move, and got involved in a barging match with King's Wonder as the winner was going to the front. Disappointingly, he weakened inside the final furlong, although he still won the race for fourth. He is something of an enigma but not one to give up on yet.
Speedy Dollar was keen again early onand did not really see his race out.
King's Wonder ran better than the bare facts suggest and can win a race or two, but American Art was already beaten when hampered and Robby Bobby disappointed again.
Harlech Castle is on the small side for lumping such big weights, and he did not impress on the way to post.
Sandown fourth Arctic Cape was taken down early and dropped right out after helping force it towards the centre. This was disappointing. Kempton AW winner Red Rumour was one of the first beaten. The filly Dixey fared no better, but she had been off more than nine months.
*William Muir reported that King's Wonder was struck into. (GD)
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