BENVENUTO Cellini would have been deemed a starter in last Saturday’s Derby at Epsom, had the decision rested with Irish raceday stewards.

The 3/1 favourite was controversially ruled a non-runner by the Epsom stewards, even though the colt participated in the race and finished down the field. Video footage showed that Ryan Moore’s mount had raised a hind leg in the stalls and it was resting on a running board when the stalls opened.

All stakes placed on Benvenuto Cellini were ordered by the stewards to be refunded while punters who backed the winner Christmas Day had 25% of their winnings deducted. Defending the decision, the British Horseracing Authority said this was an extreme example of the implementation of a new rule which was brought in following an incident at Royal Ascot in 2018 when Harry Angel got his leg caught up in the stalls just as the field was let go in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

The ruling states that stewards can declare a horse a non-runner if a horse is “denied a fair start and its chances are materially affected”.

The BHA said it took the view that British racing rules “should be in line with the majority of the international racing community on this issue, rather than an outlier.”

However, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board [IHRB] has confirmed that the rules in Ireland are different. Asked how stewards here would deal with a similar situation, an IHRB spokesperson said: “Rule 209(v) of the IHRB Rules of Racing and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules states ‘any horse that has not started in a Race, due to a starting stalls malfunction or Starter error, may be declared a non-runner by the Raceday Stewards’.

“Had the same circumstances as the case referenced from Epsom arisen in Ireland, Benvenuto Cellini would have been deemed to have started and completed the race in question. Since the horse clearly took part in the race, we could not use Rule 209 (v) and the Raceday Stewards would not have had the power to declare the horse a non-runner under our existing rules.

“The starting rule is currently under review as part of our ongoing, comprehensive review of the IHRB Rules of Racing which we committed to in our 2024-2027 Statement of Strategy.

“Any amendments to the starting rule which are identified as required will be brought forward to support the highest standards of integrity and, where appropriate, align with the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering, (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities).

Hanlon referral

In other regulatory news, trainer Shark Hanlon will appear before the Referrals Committee on Tuesday. Hanlon was fined €250 at Listowel two weeks ago for verbally abusing a racing official. Following a review of the enquiry file and the evidence available, the IHRB has asked the Referrals Committee for a review of the sanction.

Meanwhile, jockey Danny Mullins has won his appeal against a four-day careless riding ban he received at Limerick on May 28th. Mullins picked up the suspension for his winning ride on Minella Diamond, the stewards were of the opinion he had caused interference to eventual fourth, Marlpark, ridden by Dan King. Mullins told the Appeals Body that he believed the stewards erred in their decision as “any interference that may have occurred was independent of him”. The appeal was allowed.

Apprentice Julian Pietropaolo had a four-day careless riding ban doubled on appeal. He received his suspension at Gowran Park on June 1st for his ride on the unplaced Voice Of Reason. Despite hearing evidence from jockey coach Niall McCullagh that the interference was most likely caused by other jockeys riding less experienced handicappers, the Appeals Body dismissed the appeal. Having considered that this was Pietropaolo’s third offence in this regard, they increased the suspension to eight days.

Also this week, the Referrals Committee fined point-to-point handler Kieran Roche a total of €3,500 and disqualified his Umma House mares’ maiden winner Arklow.

A post-race sample taken from the mare on October 19th, 2025, was found to contain meloxicam, a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in horses to manage acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, joint inflammation, and pain associated with colic.

The finding prompted IHRB officials to make an unannounced visit to Roche’s yard where some discrepancies relating to the trainer’s medicines register were discovered.

Roche told the Referrals Committee he had a clean disciplinary record in his 15 years as a handler. He said he had delegated feeding duties to friends on the eve of the race in question and believed that Arklow could have been given feed intended for a rheumatic pony on the premises.