A bitter dispute erupted at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon when Irish amateur jockey Declan Queally accused English rider Nico de Boinville of verbally attacking him moments before the Turners Novices' Hurdle.
The 38-year-old Waterford native, who also trains his mount I'll Sort That, appeared visibly distressed when speaking to ITV Racing following the contest.
"Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, wasn't very nice," Queally stated.
"I'm an amateur, I'm coming over here, riding in front of my kids. Horrific."
Irish amateur jockey Declan Queally accused English rider Nico de Boinville of verbally attacking him
|ITV
Footage broadcast on ITV appeared to capture the heated exchange as riders gathered at the start line.
De Boinville offered a terse retort when questioned about the altercation.
"Maybe he should look in the mirror," the 36-year-old replied before departing for the weighing room.
The opening contest of day two had descended into chaos before the field even set off, with multiple false starts forcing officials to abandon the planned rolling start.
Jockeys were left scrambling for position at the tape, with De Boinville audibly instructing Queally to "get back" as the Irishman occupied the inside rail.
"Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville is not very nice" 👀
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2026
"I'm an amateur, I'm coming over riding in front of my kids. HORRIFIC" 😯
Declan Queally is NOT HAPPY with Nico de Boinville 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ZooWaL1PDI
ITV footage captured the pair in an increasingly tense standoff as the field awaited the starter's signal.
Racing legend Ruby Walsh weighed in on the controversy, directing pointed criticism at both De Boinville and the festival's starting procedures.
"It's all great fun and games isn't it, but I think that's the same Nico who won on Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape so maybe he needs to look in the mirror too," Walsh observed.
The former champion jockey has long advocated for fundamental changes to how races commence at Prestbury Park.
"I do think you need a rolling start," he explained. "If the horses walked out and lined up behind the tape, that then moved in front of the horses then you'd have none of this drama."
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend claimed victory with King Rasko Grey, whilst De Boinville secured second place aboard Act of Innocence despite the pre-race drama.
Paul Townend claimed victory with King Rasko Grey, whilst De Boinville secured second place aboard Act of Innocence
|GETTY
Queally and I'll Sort That crossed the line in fifth position.
Former champion jockey AP McCoy appeared to side with the Irish amateur when analysing the incident.
"The only thing I would say is that one person has the right to be there as much as anyone else," McCoy remarked regarding Queally's positioning on the inside rail.
ITV pundit Luke Harvey noted that De Boinville had previously been quoted criticising "Irish jockeys who come over here and don't know the rules and the amateur riders" regarding starting difficulties at Cheltenham.