Never Say Die (horse) 33/1 outsider in a field of twenty-two runners for the Derby. According to some accounts, he would have started at even longer odds if his memorable name and the publicity attracted by his eighteen-year-old jockey Lester Piggott had not made him a popular choice with many members of the public. The colt was always well-placed and was sent into the lead early in the straight by Piggott. He won comfortably by two lengths from Arabian Night and Darius. Clark was ill in New York hospital and unable to attend the race, which saw Never Say Die becoming the first American-bred
Beldale Flutter weeks and ruled him out of the Derby. Jarvis later admitted that Beldale Flutter was unlikely to have beaten Shergar in the Derby, but said that, "it would still have been nice to finish second". After a break of three months, Beldale Flutter returned in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York, in which he was matched against older horses for the first time. He started at odds of 9/1 in a field of nine runners, with the four-year-old Master Willie being made the 5/2 favourite. Lester Piggott set a steady pace on Kirtling, with Eddery settling Beldale Flutter