Nico de Boinville was embroiled in a furious exchange of heated words with another jockey on ITV after a chaotic start to the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on day two of the Cheltenham Festival
Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville engaged in a heated exchange live on ITV following a tumultuous start to the 13:20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The race’s start was delayed as jockeys jostled for position, with it reported that Ballyfad, ridden by Jack Kennedy, was kicked, leading stewards to implement a standing start. Both Queally, riding I’ll Sort That, and De Boinville, aboard Act of Innocence, were embroiled in the scuffles, and they didn’t hold back their feelings post-race.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Queally stated: “Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, not very nice. I am an amateur, coming over here riding in front of my kids. Horrific.”
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Upon hearing Queally’s remarks, De Boinville retorted: “Maybe he (Queally) should look in the mirror.”
The ITV panel later dissected both the comments and the incident that sparked the fiery exchange. Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh commented: “It’s all great fun and games isn’t it but I think that’s the same Nico who won Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape so maybe he needs to look in the mirror too.
“But I do think Ed, that you need a rolling start, I’ve said it for a long time that 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.
“I think that is the mechanism that is required myself.”
Before the race, Sir AP McCoy had stated: “It’s not a great look but what do you do? They often say you can’t win a race at the start but you can lose it.”
Following the result, ITV pundit Luke Harvey commented: “The other day there was an article about the starts and the amount of false starts they have here at Cheltenham.
“Nico was quoted as saying ‘part of the blame are the Irish jockeys who come over here and don’t know the rules and the amateur riders.”
Paul Townend ultimately clinched the race on King Rasko Grey for Willie Mullins, with De Boinville coming in second, followed by Zeus Power and Soldier Reeves. I’ll Sort That and Queally rounded off the top five.