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Irish jockey Declan Queally accused English counterpart Nico de Boinville of “abusing” him before the opening race of day two at the Cheltenham Festival.

Queally, riding I’ll Sort That, and De Boinville on Act Of Innocence could be seen exhanging words at the start line as the Novices’ Hurdle was held up.

The Irish rider appeared to topple off his horse before the race started and had to be checked over by a doctor. He was given the all clear to race, along with Ballyfad, who was kicked pre-race and assessed by a vet in a chaotic few minutes.

A number of false starts to the planned rolling start meant the horses were moved to a standing start at the tape – leaving jockeys jostling for position.

Queally, who finished fifth in the race, told ITV Racing before entering the weight room post-race: “Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, not very nice.

“I am an amateur, coming over here and riding in front of my kids. Horrific.”

When informed of Queally’s comments about a difficult start to the race, De Boinville responded: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.”

Queally lodged a complaint following the incident and having obtained initial evidence, stewards have adjourned the matter in order to gather more evidence.

Queally, though, was given a one-day suspension for misconduct at the start.

Horse racing legend Ruby Walsh criticised the starters of the race and labelled it a “joke”.

He told ITV: “It’s 2026. How has nobody devised a tape that rolls in front of the horses?

“The tape should have been in front of them when they went onto the track and it should be moved in front of the horses.

“We can send missiles after fighter planes in the gulf but nobody can design a rolling flyaway tape.

“That’s the joke.”

Former Gold Cup-winning jockey Walsh added the trust is broken between the jockeys and the starters after similar scenes in the third race of the afternoon, the Handicap Hurdle, which was won by Jingko Blue.

In that race, a number of horses were sandwiched between the field and a fence when the roar went up, resulting in them losing ground early on.

“Big time (the trust is broken),” said Walsh. “The BHA [British Horseracing Authority] need to give their starters the right mechanisms to be able to start races.

“A quarter of this field had no chance. That’s why [Jingko Blue jockey] James Bowen ended up where he did.

“Lucky Place, Puturhandstogether, Rambo T, Bunting, HMS Seahorse, had no chance when the tape went back. Jingko Blue got a flyer.

Il Etait Temps powered over the line in the Queen Mother Champion Chase to earn trainer Willie Mullins his third win of day two at Cheltenham Festival.

Majborough was the odds-on favourite to claim victory in the big race of the day but a poor jumping display made it an impossible victory.

A mistake at the final fence almost cost Il Etait Temps the win, but jockey Paul Townend steered him over the line at the Festival’s first Ladies Day in five years.

“There was a lot of work put into this horse after Ascot so I have a lot of people to thank,” Townend told ITV Racing. “It shows how tough this lad is. He’s such a courageous horse again today. He was flat as a pan everywhere.

“I wasn’t going to force him but he just found his rhythm.”

Mullins told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “Out of the corner of my eye I could see Paul Townend thinking ‘now we have a horse race’.

“He started to get confident and he planned his move around the last bend.”

Libberty Hunter, priced at 50-1, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s horse, L’eau Du Sud, finished third.

The first winner of the day for Mullins came in the opening race with 11-1 shot King Rasko Grey powering over the finish line.

Act of Innocence, ridden by Nico de Boinville, followed up in second.

Mullins was “disappointed” with his horses in Tuesday’s Supreme Hurdle, but King Rasko Grey’s “form worked out”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “We were all disappointed with our horses in the Supreme, but his form worked out. The day we bought him from the sales, he looked like a really smooth mover.

“I am very happy. When I saw them here on Monday, my worry was they looked too well.

“I don’t think I have seen my team on the gallop look so well, but they are racing well.”

It was a Mullins one-two in the Novices’ Chase with a brilliant jumping display from 11-1 chance Kitzbuhel allowing him to hold off the challenge of 7-2 shot Final Demand.

Jockey Harry Cobden labelled Kitzbuhel a “phenomenal little horse”.

He told ITV: “He’s braver than I am, this little chap. He’s a phenomenal horse.

Trainer Nicky Henderson recorded his victory of the day when 9-2 favourite Jingko Blue finished in front of 50-1 shot Franciscan Rock in the Handicap Hurdle.

HMS Seahorse fell at the final hurdle and, after veterinary attention on course, was euthanised. Two horses have died at the 2026 Festival.

English trainer Venetia Williams got a surprise first win of the Festival when 66-1 Martator denied Jazzy Matty back-to-back Grand Annual wins.

The nine-year-old, ridden by jockey Charlie Deutsch, crossed the line alongside Cian Collins’ horse, resulting in the first photo finish of the Festival.

Gavin Cromwell-trained 7-1 shot Final Orders won the Cross Country Chase after a fine display of jumping.

The syndicate owned horse finished in front of bookies favourite Favori De Champdou.

Final Orders syndicate owner Joe Deacon told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “There are 10 of us in the syndicate.

“We have been together since back in 2019. We have had tremendous success with the horse – he has brought us to the finest course in England and Ireland.

“We are a group of people brought together by the horse, and all good friends. I feel like I ran as far and as quick as him [Final Orders].

“We were here in 2023, and we didn’t get a chance to show. We were very quiet today for the first part of the race.

“He led from the off. Just to watch him and keep quiet, but knowing the ground felt for him. He [Conor Stone-Walsh] did a fantastic job riding him.

The Irish FA has confirmed that Northern Ireland supporters who booked their travel and accommodation for the Nations League game away to Georgia before the announcement that it will take place behind closed doors will be allowed to attend the game.

In February, it was confirmed that Northern Ireland’s opening game in League B2 on 25 September would be played without supporters after the Georgian FA were hit with sanctions after multiple breaches of Uefa regulations and crowd disorder from a game against Armenia last year.

At the time, Northern Ireland fans spokesperson Gary McAllister said they were only informed of the issue by Football Supporters Europe and added a number of fans had booked flights to Georgia when the fixtures were released that morning.

Now the IFA has said that following “constructive dialogue with Uefa” that those who had booked flights and accommodation in Georgia will be permitted to attend the game with valid proof of purchase.

“Supporters who were able to demonstrate that their arrangements were made before the stadium closure was confirmed will be issued tickets for the game,” read an IFA statement.

“The association will contact the affected supporters directly to confirm the necessary ticketing arrangements.”

Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson added: “We recognise the commitment and loyalty shown by those fans who had already made plans to travel and support the team.