Benvenuto Cellini non-runner Derby call blasted as 'extraordinary act of self-sabotage' by bookie chief - but BHA backs its stewards

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Ruling Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner in the Derby was labelled "an extraordinary act of self-sabotage" by one major bookmaker on Sunday, though the BHA has backed the decision taken by the stewards.

The controversial judgement, which was supported by Benvenuto Cellini's part-owner and breeder Peter Brant, was made 20 minutes after the race as the Epsom stewards felt the favourite did not get a fair start.

That caused confusion in the betting market as post-declaration bets on the 3-1 market leader, who passed the post in tenth, were refunded and those on 7-1 winner Christmas Day were subject to a 25p in the pound Rule 4 deduction.

And it was a decision that prompted punters' body the Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF) to express concern about the precedent it now sets.

• Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini declared a post-race non-runner after stalls drama - leading to major Rule 4 deduction on winning bets  
• 'The win had been £27,000 . . . but then we had that news' - chaos in the betting ring after Derby favourite ruled a non-runner  
• 'He never had a chance to follow our plan' - Benvenuto Cellini part-owner says non-runner call was correct 

The HBF's chair Sean Trivass said: "The majority view of the HBF is that we do not feel the horse was inconvenienced enough to be deemed a non-runner, were amazed at the decision on the day by the on-course stewards, and look forward to seeing if any further action is taken by the BHA shortly.

"We're wary of where this may lead in the future, potentially opening a can of worms, with punters wondering if a horse who missed the break after rearing in the stalls will then be declared a non-runner.

"Will there be cameras on every starting stall in every race looking for the same issue? Will connections be asked for racing tactics in advance of every contest?

"Thankfully, some bookmakers have declined the Rule 4 deductions for those who backed the winner so they do not miss out, but perhaps the rules need tweaking to avoid any potential for abuse in the future."

Trivass hopes the HBF will be involved in any potential changes and said: "We acknowledge the difficulty in framing rules to be fair and reasonable to all, and look forward to adding our input to any future changes that may now be deemed necessary by the BHA, although we need to add that the HBF did warn them of possible problems when last consulted."

This image shows where Benvenuto Cellini's hind leg was caught in the stalls

'The impact was huge'

Ladbrokes and Coral waived the Rule 4 on the race and Simon Clare, group director of consumer PR at the bookmakers' parent company Entain, was highly critical of the decision taken by the stewards.

Clare said: "This was a shocking decision, shockingly bad. The impact was huge. This is the biggest betting Flat race of the year, this was the best backed horse in the race, over a third of the stakes were placed on it. This was surprising, out of kilter with everything that's gone before."

Speaking on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme, Clare said: "We decided to waive the Rule 4; that is costing Entain hundreds of thousands of pounds. Other bookmakers have decided to apply the Rule 4.

"You can see on social media the impact these sorts of decisions have on winning customers. They hate it, and the damage to the appeal of racing in a competitive sector is huge.

"We're talking an impact of multi-million pounds reputationally and financially. And nobody expected it to happen; this is an extraordinary act of self-sabotage on one of the biggest days, and done in the name of the betting public, which is the most concerning thing. Actually, it was quite the opposite." 

Simon Clare: 'The damage to the appeal of racing in a competitive sector is huge'Credit: Ian Walton

Clare argued that punters would have seen the fact that Benvenuto Cellini got a slow start because a hindleg was caught on the gate as simple misfortune.

"We're very lucky, we've got an incredibly established betting sector," he said. "People know there's a chance when there's interference in the finish that there may be an overturned result. They understand the rules.

"But nobody who bets on racing would have looked at that incident in the stalls and thought anything other than that was bad luck, that's horseracing.

"It needs to be reviewed immediately, and the future application needs to be reviewed as well. We'll be looking to sit down with the BHA and we'd be expecting to be part of that discussion, given that we were the biggest victim along with racing's customers."

BHA chief defends rule use

The change to the rules of racing was implemented from May 1, 2024, when the powers of the stewards were extended to include situations where a horse had been prevented from starting on equal terms and its chance in a race materially affected as a consequence.

Brant Dunshea, the BHA's chief executive, said on Sunday "there's no perfect situation" and that each case had to be handled on its merits.

Dunshea said: "The last thing anyone wants to see is the circumstances that unfolded yesterday, and there’s no perfect solution when you’re dealing with situations like this.

“This is not specifically about World Pool. This rule change came about as a consequence of the leading nations coming together and agreeing on the preferred method for dealing with horses whose chances are impeded at the start."

Brant Dunshea: "What we have to do is protect the punter"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Dunshea referenced that this was not the first example of the ruling being used in Britain, even if it was by far the most high-profile implementation.

On May 11, Cashbox was deemed a non-runner in a mile handicap at Windsor. He was relatively unfancied at 18-1, with the stewards ruling he had been prevented from starting on equal terms due to having his leg stuck on side boards as the gates opened. There was no Rule 4 on that occasion.

Dunshea added: "Each case has to be dealt with on its own circumstances. This case yesterday is not the first time the stewards have taken this action.

"What we have to do is protect the punter. We can’t protect everybody, but the principle that underlies having a bet on a race is that they must be entitled to a fair chance for their investment."

In a post on X, the BHA said it accepted that "decisions taken by officials may prompt passionate debate and be subject to robust scrutiny".

However, it was critical of "vile and unacceptable" abuse directed towards its officials, adding it was a growing problem on social media.

Read more . . .

'The stars aligned' for Ronan Whelan as well-backed Christmas Day seals 50th British Classic for Aidan O'Brien    

Construction site manager backs Christmas Day to win the Derby - after taking inspiration from 'spooky' time capsule 

'There are no better sources of staying power than Camelot' - analysing Derby winner Christmas Day's pedigree 

Royal Ascot special offer: Get 20% off a full year of Racing Post+ Ultimate

Sign up to Racing Post+ in time for Royal Ascot with 20% off Ultimate Annual, Tipping Annual or Insights Annual. Click here and sign up using code ASCOT26. Offer ends Tuesday, June 30. New customers only. After a year you will roll on to our standard pricing. No contract, no commitment, cancel any time.