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When the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) stewards deemed Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner after competing in Saturday's Epsom Derby, my initial reaction was that it was an announcement error.
Why would the stewards decide that a horse which had made its own bad luck by lifting its hind leg onto the running board in the starting stall be deemed a non-runner after the race was run?
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from Maghery in Co Armagh and I don't come from an equine background. It was a friend that did show jumping, to a pony level, and I tagged along with him. Then his mum got me into riding lessons in the local area, and it took off from there then. The first time I sat on a racehorse was in Stephen McConville's yard. He was only 10 minutes down the road from me. I was 15 and I rode out at the weekends and whenever I was off school in the summer.
Pundits Split On Derby Controversy
Emma Nagle, Johnny Ward and Paddy Flood discuss all the fallout from the Derby
- AL QAREEM made light of a 5lb penalty when successful in the corresponding race last year and bids to repeat the dose. Karl Burke's five-time Group winner had the measure of Mount Atlas (second) in Listed company at Musselburgh in April and looks the one to beat once again. Tabletalk also fell victim to the selection when third here last July, although he's weighted to finish closer this time, while Epic Poet will likely run his usual solid race.
