Cheltenham Jockeys Resolve Racism Row with Handshake as BHA Inquiry Continues
Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville appeared to settle their differences on Thursday following a heated and controversial exchange before the first race at Cheltenham on Wednesday. The two jockeys shook hands in the weighing room and told ITV Racing that their issues had been resolved, though the British Horseracing Authority confirmed its investigation into the alleged racial incident will proceed.
Alleged Racial Abuse and Immediate Resolution
Queally had lodged a formal complaint with stewards, alleging that De Boinville directed verbal abuse toward him, including racial comments, as they lined up at the running rail before the Grade One contest. The incident occurred in the tense moments before the race began, with emotions running high among competitors.
"All sorted, it was the heat of the moment and all is forgiven," Queally stated after the handshake. "Best of luck to Nico in the future." De Boinville responded, "I appreciate Declan and wish him the best," while thanking former jockey Davy Russell for intervening to help resolve their dispute.
BHA Investigation Proceeds Despite Personal Resolution
Despite the jockeys' personal reconciliation, the British Horseracing Authority will continue gathering evidence before deciding next week whether to advance its inquiry. "The BHA are dealing with it, so we'll go from there," Queally acknowledged later. "It was heated down there, we're sportspeople and as was said this morning, tempers can rise."
Queally elaborated on the incident, explaining, "I was where Nico wanted to be and unfortunately what happened, happened. There was effing and blinding, there was a racial comment thrown, I've told the BHA but I'd prefer to enjoy my day." He suggested that if he hadn't been interviewed immediately after the race when "blood was still up," the matter might not have gained public attention.
Race Start Problems Prompt Full Review
The starting procedures at Cheltenham faced additional scrutiny when three races—the Mares' Novice Hurdle, Jack Richards Novice Handicap Chase, and Pertemps Hurdle final—all failed to get away cleanly on the first attempt. The BHA announced it will conduct "a full review" into the starts following the festival's final day.
Brant Dunshea, the BHA's chief executive, stated, "We share the frustrations of jockeys, trainers and punters regarding the starts. We have full faith in our teams of starters, many of whom are former jockeys, and the data shows that away from the festival, our starting procedures work well." He acknowledged that "several factors unique to Cheltenham" make race starts particularly challenging despite pre-festival adjustments made in collaboration with jockeys and the racecourse.
Ground Conditions Draw Criticism from Top Trainer
The condition of the racing surface also generated controversy on Thursday, with Willie Mullins withdrawing Fact To File, the hot favorite for the Ryanair Chase, due to concerns about the ground. Mullins expressed strong criticism of the track conditions, which were officially described as good, good-to-soft in places.
"If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them," Mullins declared in an interview with Racing TV. "We were promised watering, and I'm not sure the watering we were promised has been done. I'm a little bit annoyed about that." He emphasized that the conditions didn't suit "the majority of the good, big, National Hunt horses" who typically perform better on softer ground.
Unexpected Results Highlight Challenging Day
With Fact To File absent, Nicky Henderson's Jonbon became the 2-1 favorite for the Ryanair Chase but couldn't match the finishing kick of Henry de Bromhead's Heart Wood, who won by ten lengths. The day began with White Noise's surprising 40-1 victory in the Mares' Novice Hurdle and continued with another major upset in the Grade One Stayers' Hurdle, where 33-1 shot Home By The Lee defeated Ballyburn by a length and a quarter.
Kabral Du Mathan appeared poised for victory in the Stayers' Hurdle, traveling strongly to the final flight, but Dan Skelton's six-year-old faded dramatically on the run-in to finish fourth in his first attempt at three miles.
The combination of personal conflicts among jockeys, procedural issues with race starts, and unexpected results created a dramatic and controversial day at Cheltenham, with multiple investigations and reviews now underway as the festival approaches its conclusion.
