Benvenuto Cellini, Christmas Day Rematch in Irish Derby

Ryan Moore has decided to stick with Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) in the June 28 Irish Derby (G1) in a rematch against stablemate Christmas Day (IRE), with eight runners declared for the showpiece at the Curragh. Epsom Derby (G1) winner Christmas Day delivered over soggy ground to spring a shock at Epsom and will again be partnered with Ronan Whelan. The son of Camelot (GB) will bid to become trainer Aidan O'Brien's second horse to complete the British and Irish double in as many years after Lambourn (IRE) completed the feat last year. However, his stablemate Benvenuto Cellini was sent off as the favorite before being controversially declared a non-runner at Epsom, and he is once again the mount of Ballydoyle's stable jockey Moore. The colt missed the break under Moore and was never able to reach a challenging position, eventually finishing 10th. But the stewards then held an inquiry to look into whether he had a fair start. Overhead television footage appeared to show that his near hind leg was on the stall shelf when the gates opened, and he was deemed a non-runner. Besides Benvenuto Cellini and Christmas Day, O'Brien will also run Pierre Bonnard (IRE) and Action (IRE), who were seventh and 12th, respectively, at Epsom. Wayne Lordan will be on Pierre Bonnard, while Declan McDonogh takes the ride on Action. Christmas Day's success gave O'Brien his 12th Derby success, 25 years on from his first with Galileo, and marked his 50th success in a British classic. He scored for owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Peter Brant. Conditions may have impacted the race as wet weather caused riders to fan out their mounts across the course in the home straight in search of the best ground. James J Braddock (GB), trained by Joseph O'Brien, got to within 5 1/4 lengths of Christmas Day when third in the Derby and will bid to close the gap this time under Dylan Browne McMonagle, while the Gallinule Stakes (G3) third Shaihaan (IRE) will line up for Donnacha O'Brien and be partnered by Tom Marquand. Raaheeb (IRE) will run for the first time since making a smart impression in Sandown Park's Classic Trial Stakes (G3) in April, having suffered a setback afterward. The Shadwell colt is a brother to the group 1 winners Baaeed (GB) and Hukum (IRE) and, with Jim Crowley still on the sidelines, Owen Burrows' runner will be reunited with his Sandown jockey Rossa Ryan. The other British runner is Richard Hannon-trained Bunyola Bay (IRE), who already boasts winning Irish form, having landed a valuable Gowran contest at the beginning of the month. The dual winner will be partnered by Sean Levey.