An Irish amateur rider has accused top British jockey Nico de Boinville of directing a racially offensive comment towards him during the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Declan Queally and de Boinville, who rides for Nicky Henderson, engaged in a heated exchange amid a tumultuous start to the race, resulting in two false starts before the field finally set off. De Boinville finished second on Act Of Innocence, while Queally settled for fifth on I’ll Sort That.
Following the race, Queally expressed his displeasure to ITV Racing, stating, “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 retorted, suggesting Queally should reflect on his own actions.
During a stewards’ inquiry, it was revealed that Queally, along with other riders, had contributed to the false starts by not approaching the starting point correctly. As a result, Kennedy and Queally received one-day suspensions for misconduct at the start, while Gilligan and O’Keefe faced two-day suspensions for their repeated offense.
Queally raised a formal complaint about the incident at the start, alleging that de Boinville had used racially abusive language towards him, a claim which he reported to the BHA stewards. De Boinville declined to comment when approached for a response.
The stewards have adjourned the matter to gather additional evidence after hearing initial testimonies from Queally and de Boinville.
For comprehensive coverage of the Cheltenham festival, readers can access a free shop bet in their favorite racing paper every day. Expert insights from top tipsters will be provided daily from Tuesday, March 10, to Friday, March 13, 2026, guiding readers on the latest runners and riders at the 102nd Cheltenham festival. Learn more here.
Please note that all betting activities are for individuals aged 18 and above, with terms and conditions applying. Refer to the publication for further details.