Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville have settled their disagreement following Queally’s claim that De Boinville made a racially offensive remark towards him at the Cheltenham Festival. The incident occurred during the Turners Novices’ Hurdle race, where tensions rose among the 21-horse field resulting in two false starts before the race commenced. De Boinville finished second on Act Of Innocence while Queally came in fifth on I’ll Sort That.
The verbal confrontation continued after the race, with Queally expressing his displeasure at De Boinville’s behavior, stating that he felt abused. Queally labeled De Boinville’s comments as racially charged and reported the incident to the BHA stewards. De Boinville declined to comment initially.
However, the situation has now been resolved. In an interview with ITV after The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, Queally and De Boinville shook hands, confirming that the matter had been resolved. Queally acknowledged the incident as a heat-of-the-moment conflict and extended his best wishes to De Boinville. De Boinville reciprocated the sentiment, expressing appreciation towards Queally and thanking Davy Russell for intervening.
The two riders exchanged handshakes before parting ways to prepare for the next race. Former Champion Jockey AP McCoy commended their resolution, deeming it the right course of action. Don’t miss out on a complimentary shop bet in your favorite racing paper every day of the Cheltenham Festival! Get expert insights from top tipsters covering the event from March 10 to March 13, 2026. Terms and conditions apply.