Tempers rise as Cheltenham starts come into focus again

The starting procedure at the Cheltenham Festival came under scrutiny again on Wednesday, with Irish amateur Declan Queally seemingly exchanging words with Nico de Boinville prior to the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

There was plenty of drama at the starts at the showpiece meeting 12 months ago, which has continued into this year’s Festival, with the starter’s role made more difficult by large fields heading to post.

The opening event on day two started almost four minutes later than advertised after a prolonged effort to get the 21 runners into a suitable order, with De Boinville and Queally clashing as they fought for a position close to the tapes.

Queally told Matt Chapman on ITV Racing: “The start was a bit of a mess and I got trapped back further than I wanted.

“I was being abused by an English rider Nico de Boinville and it’s not very nice. I’m an amateur coming here riding in front of my kids and that, it’s horrific.”

De Boinville responded: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.”

Analysing the start on ITV, riding greats Ruby Walsh and Sir Anthony McCoy felt both riders had the right to stand their ground, with Walsh reiterating his stance that the starting procedures require alteration.

McCoy said: “One person has as much right to be there as someone else. Just because whoever you are doesn’t mean to say you should be in there. I don’t think Declan’s done much wrong. I don’t think one person is any more entitled to be there than another.”

Walsh added: “That’s the same Nico de Boinville who rode Jonbon last year and put his head on the tape. Maybe he needs to look in the mirror, too. You need a rolling start.

“I’ve said it for a long time. If they walk in front of a tape and then it moves in front of the horses, you’d have none of this drama.”

One horse heavily inconvenienced by the false start in the race was Paul Nicholls’ 5-2 favourite No Drama This End, who had to settle for a slot further back than ideal and was eventually pulled up by Harry Cobden.

Part-owner Max McNeill said: “I think they should have given them another chance to walk in again at the start. If they don’t do it first time, they should tell them off and do it again.

“The Irish jockeys know what they are doing and they are going to make it as difficult for the class horse in the races possible. I’m not blaming anyone. The horse wasn’t good enough on the day, but we live to fight another day. I’m not blaming Harry at all as it was a lottery at the start.”

At a subsequent inquiry held by the stewards into the start, four jockeys were found in breach of the rules, including Queally.

A report read: “The starter reported that Jack Kennedy, the rider of Ballyfad, Mr D. Queally, the rider of I’ll Sort That, Danny Gilligan, the rider of Skylight Hussle, and Darragh O’Keeffe, the rider of Walks In June, had not approached the tape at a walk or a jig-jog thereby causing a false start, resulting in a standing start.

“The riders and the starters were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. Kennedy and Queally were suspended for one day for misconduct at the start. As it was their second offence in 12 months, Gilligan and O’Keeffe were suspended for two days.”

In a further development, it transpired a complaint had been made by Queally regarding “an incident at the start”.

The report added: “An inquiry was held into a complaint received from Mr D. Queally regarding an incident at the start. The stewards, having heard the initial evidence from Queally and Nico de Boinville, have adjourned the matter to obtain further evidence.”