Post-race betting drama with Benvenuto Cellini ruled a non-runner

Punters who backed Benvenuto Cellini in the Betfred Derby got their money back despite the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite finishing only 10th of the 14 runners at Epsom.

The Chester Vase winner was the 3-1 market leader for the premier Classic come the off, but after a slow start he never threatened to land a telling blow in the hands of Ryan Moore.

The stewards quickly announced an inquiry after the race and with video footage showing Benvenuto Cellini had a hind leg on the inside shelf of the starting stall when the gates opened, it was adjudged he had been denied a fair start and he was therefore declared a non-runner.

Explaining the decision, the British Horseracing Authority’s head of stewarding Shaun Parker said: “The horses had left the stalls when we were notified immediately from the starter that there was a problem with regards to the favourite and how he had left the stalls. Their view was that he had got a left hind leg caught up on the running board just before the start was effected.

“In reviewing the film after the running of the race, we then realised that also as the start was effected, his leg was caught up on the running board and he was effectively standing on three legs when the gates opened and unable to jump on terms with the field.

“We took evidence, his hind leg was caught up on the running board when they started and Ryan realised there was a problem. He’s dragging his leg out once he’s gone.

“The important aspect of the inquiry is to ask has it materially affected him and the important part from that is what were the instructions, what were the intentions and how were they going to ride the horse?

“Ryan said his instructions and his intention was to take the horse forward and be positive with him and we can see shortly after the start he’s literally second-last and on the back foot from the start.

“We don’t feel we had any choice but to declare him a non-runner.”

Of the incident, O’Brien said: “What can you say? He unusually had his foot up on the side of the stalls, so it’s unusual, but he’s fine, that’s just the way it is. Ryan said he just came out on three legs, but what can you do. He’s fine, though.

“Things don’t always happen perfectly for every horse and that’s the way it is.”

While the decision will have delighted Benvenuto Cellini’s supporters, his withdrawal meant a Rule 4 deduction applied, which on this occasion saw 25 pence in the pound deducted from all winning bets.

Coral and Boyle Sports were among the bookmakers to waive the Rule 4 deduction, but some did not.

“There’s never going to be a perfect solution in terms of having a rule that is going to appease everybody,” Parker added.

“On the counter (to those affected by a Rule 4 deduction), if you’d backed the favourite and that’s happened to you at the start, it would be very difficult to explain why we didn’t think that it had materially affected his chances and they’d actually lost their money.”