Derby drama as Benvenuto Cellini is declared non-runner after race

There was high drama following Saturday's Betfred Derby, with Benvenuto Cellini, who was sent off the 3-1 favourite, declared a non-runner after finishing tenth of the 14 runners.

Aidan O'Brien's charge appeared to get his left hind leg partially trapped on the shelf in the stalls, and the stewards, following an inquiry, deemed that the three-year-old had not had a fair start.

Ryan Moore glanced to his left just before the stalls opened, and his mount missed the break plus was never able to reach a challenging position. The overhead footage in the stalls revealed more, and appeared to show that Benvenuto Cellini's near hind-leg was on the shelf in the stalls when the stalls opened.

Any bets placed on Benvenuto Cellini after declarations on Wednesday will be refunded, and bets on the winner, Christmas day, were subject to a Rule 4 deduction of 25p in the pound.

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. However, Coral, BetVictor 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.”