Epsom Saturday

Betfred Derby (Group 1)

THE 2026 Derby saw Christmas Day (Aidan O’Brien/Ronan Whelan) claim classic glory amidst a background of controversy, which saw stablemate and favourite Benvenuto Cellini ruled a non-runner in a post-race stewards’ enquiry.

The winner was the subject of strong support just before the off, returning at an SP of 7/1, which was effectively reduced by a 25p in the £ Rule 4 deduction.

On unusually testing ground for the Derby, Christmas Day tracked stablemate Action in the early stages and pressed on as that rival began to weaken three furlongs from home.

He quickly established a lead of two lengths and showed his stamina by gradually increasing that lead, finishing two and three-quarter lengths and two and a half lengths ahead of Maltese Cross (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) and the coltish James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle).

The winner was ante-post favourite for the Derby, having won the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in the spring, but lost his place in the market when meeting defeat in the Dante Stakes at York behind Item. He didn’t seem to enjoy the quicker turf at York, however, and looked much more at home on softer ground here, turning the tables comfortably.

His win was a 50th British classic success for the indomitable O’Brien and a 12th in the Derby itself, extending his all-time record for this contest.

Regarding his classic milestone, Aidan O’Brien said: “To win one classic is so difficult, let alone 50. I’m so delighted to win big races for John and Sue and Michael and Doreen and Derrick and Sarah, because they put so much into it and that’s what allows it to happen.

“Ronan gave him a great ride and was always in the right position; I think that was his first Group 1 for us, and it’s the Derby.

“We felt that the horse would stay and was better than he had shown in the Dante. He has form on soft ground, but he also has form on good ground. He does stay and he’s hard.”

Regarding the withdrawal of the favourite, O’Brien added: “Benvenuto Cellini jumped out of the stalls on three legs and the other one got caught up - it happens, that’s racing, there’ll be another day with him.”

Scott and City roll on to a first Group 1 win

Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Coolmore Coronation Cup boasted record total prize money of £1 million, was billed earlier in the week as a rematch between 2024 1-2 Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, but continued rain meant much softer ground than a year ago, which was very much against Calandagan, who failed to give his running and left Francis-Henri Graffard rueing the decision to run.

The rain was welcome news for trainer George Scott, however, and he saddled Bay City Roller (Oisin Murphy) to land something of a public gamble. The 13/2 chance was more than twice that price overnight, but he was a wide-margin winner of a Group 1 in the mud in Germany in the autumn, and handled conditions best as he powered to a an impressive 10-length win over Jan Brueghel (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore).

The runner-up’s stable-companion and 2024 Derby winner Lambourn (Wayne Lordan) was a further five and a half lengths back in third and the other trio tailed off in attritional conditions.

The win was a first domestic Group 1 for Scott, who was naturally delighted.

“I’m grateful to everyone on this journey, right back to the beginning,” said the winning trainer.

“It’s so nice to share this with the people who have been with me from the start, and Billy Jackson-Stops (bloodstock agent), the horse, the owner - I can’t really believe it. I just prayed that one day we’d turn up and we’d get these conditions and this ground. He’s a very, very good horse on this ground and I’m so pleased he’s shown it.”

Pearson performance lights Sparks

THE Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Chapel Down) saw the riding performance of the day as Laura Pearson took Sparks Fly (Dave Loughnane) to the inside rail on a day when the jockeys were largely steering a wide path, and her bold judgement was rewarded as the 7/2 favourite improved on her third in the mile contest 12 months ago to score by a remarkable eight and a half lengths.

Sparks Fly has a tendency to hang to her left under pressure, but has shown she is comfortable racing alone, so Pearson made the decision to plough a lone furrow and was rewarded with a famous victory, made all the more remarkable as a fall here saw her suffer a broken neck in 2022, which almost ended her career.

“She’s aged like absolute fine wine,” said Pearson of her mount.

“She’s improved every year for us. It’s massive for the team. Kayleigh, who rides her every day, says you can tell she’s a bit of a madam, she likes doing her own thing, so Kayleigh has done an absolutely incredible job with her.”

Ten Bob Tony bounces back in Tattenham Corner duel

THE opening race on Derby day was the Group 3 Tattenham Corner Stakes, a race replacing the John Of Gaunt Stakes, previously held at Haydock, and victory went to 11/2 chance Ten Bob Tony (Ed Walker/Kieran Shoemark), who returned to his best after a quiet start to the season under a positive ride to beat the front-running Witness Stand (Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole/Billy Loughnane).

The winner was also successful in last year’s John Of Gaunt, so this was an apposite triumph in the circumstances.

Successful trainer Ed Walker said: “He just needs these conditions, and that was mega.

“It was very easy watching, and Kieran gave him a peach.

“He just relaxed, they went a nice pace, and a few of the fancied horses never got into it.

“It panned out really well. We’ve got to pick our battles and, annoyingly, seven-furlong Group 1s and Group 2s on soft ground don’t grow on trees. The Foret is his race again, and I’d probably rather go a mile than back to six.”

THERE has been much discussion regarding the decision of the stewards to deem Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner and there are two aspects to examine in that regard, namely whether the rule was applied correctly and whether the rule itself is phrased correctly.

It is worth pointing out that there have been previous examples this year of horses being withdrawn in similar circumstances (Cashbox at Windsor the most recent example, who started slowly after having a hind leg up on the running board).

So, there is a uniformity in applying the rule, which shows that no favour was given here because of the status of the horse, but the phrasing of the rule is still problematic.

The previous rule (which only allowed a horse to be made a non-runner if it started the race without its jockey) was broadened in 2024 to ensure harmonisation on an international level, bringing Britain in line with other racing jurisdictions, but none of those jurisdictions have the same wording, meaning they are open to different interpretations.

The BHA rule is particularly vague and it needs to differentiate what constitutes an unfair start and what is deemed to be the fault of the horse (or jockey, presumably).

How to measure

There is also the issue of how to measure the degree to which a horse is compromised by an unfair start. In Hong Kong, for example, a horse which finishes in the first four cannot be made a non-runner, but no such provision exists in the BHA rules.

Rules cannot cover every eventuality, but a determining factor must be established on which stewards can rule.

That factor appears to be whether a horse starts slowly through its own action or whether an outside factor causes it to do so.

Not every factor (e.g. stall malfunction, jockey not aboard, stalls handler holding horse’s head) can be listed, but they must be factors beyond the control of the horse.

Whether a horse resting a hind leg on the running board represents a fault of the stalls or of the horse is up to the BHA to define within the rules and for those rules to be applied without fear or favour.

Around the tracks

Perth and Goodwood provide success for Elliott and Coleman

ON Sunday, trainer Gordon Elliott took four runners across the water to Perth.

Headlining his Scottish team of Duffle Coat, Neon Diamond, Craedan Rose and Flying Ace, was the victory of five-year-old Flying Ace (3/1), successful in the Scone Palace Jousting Tournament Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The remaining three runners finished unplaced in their respective races.

Following up on a Cartmel win last month, the James Conway-owned son of Jet Away raced in third under Sean Bowen - who also partnered him at Cartmel - before challenging two furlongs from home.

The winner led approaching the last, where he jumped to the right, with runner-up and fellow Irish raider Kibris also making a mistake here, but nonetheless he ran on to win by eight lengths.

Kevin Coleman took one runner to Goodwood last Friday and the journey from his base in Carrick-on-Suir proved very much worthwhile as the Atomic Racing-owned Matilda Joslyngage got herself off the mark at the fourth attempt in the Fitzdares Apprentice Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes over a mile.

Decent form

Having shown a decent level of form when finishing second in a Thurles maiden in October and fourth at Leopardstown on her seasonal debut last month, the daughter of Acclamation held good claims in this company considering the weight she was receiving from her main market rivals.

Making all under Ryan Kavanagh, there was no stopping the three-year-old 15/8 chance, as she pulled away a furlong out to come home four and a half lengths adrift of 10/11 favourite Venetian Gold, who was unable to make an impression on the winner.