Amateur Declan Queally and de Boinville were involved in a heated exchange before the start of the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday
Declan Queally hit out at Nico de Boinville(Image: ITV 2026)
An Irish amateur rider accused top British jockey Nico de Boinvile of making an abusive comment towards him “of a racial nature” at Cheltenham on Wednesday. Declan Queally and de Boinville, stable jockey to Nicky Henderson, became involved in a heated exchange during a chaotic start to the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Tempers flared as the riders jostled for position among the 21 runner field which led to the starter declaring two false starts before the runners were allowed to set off. De Boinville went on to finish second on Act Of Innocence behind the Willie Mullins-trained winner King Rasko Grey while Queally finished fifth on the family-trained I’ll Sort That.
READ MORE: Cheltenham jockeys furious as Ruby Walsh calls for immediate intervention – ‘It’s a joke’READ MORE: Cheltenham races result: Il Etait Temps survives scare to win for England World Cup winner
The war of words continued after the race after Queally told ITV Racing: “The start was a bit of a mess. Being abused by an English rider Nico de Boinville is not very nice. I’m an amateur. I’ve come over here riding in front of my kids and that. Horrific.” De Boinville replied: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.”
At a subsequent stewards’ inquiry the starter reported that Jack Kennedy, Queally, Danny Gilligan and Darragh O’Keeffe had not approached the tape at a walk or a jig-jog and thereby caused a false start. Kennedy and Queally were suspended for one day for misconduct at the Start. Gilligan and O’Keefe were suspended for two days as it was their second offence in 12 months.
The report also said that Queally made a complaint “regarding an incident at the start”. Queally told the Racing Post that de Boinville “called me a f*****g p***k a couple of times in front of the ITV camera”.
He later told Mirror Racing: “It was of a racial nature. I’ve reported it and it is being dealt with by the BHA stewards.” De Boinville was contacted for a response and said he had no comment to make.
The stewards notice said. “The stewards, having heard the initial evidence from Queally and Nico de Boinville, have adjourned the matter to obtain further evidence.”
