'It was just a heat of the moment battle and all is forgiven' - Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville shake hands after bust-up

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Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville appeared happy to move on from an altercation on Wednesday that led to the Irish amateur rider making an allegation of racial abuse against his weighing room counterpart to the stewards after the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

De Boinville and Queally exchanged words in an incident played out on ITV Racing, with Queally later accusing De Boinville of "repeated racial" abuse amid a chaotic start to the Grade 1.

The pair were reunited in front of the ITV cameras on Thursday, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries after the second race. "It was just a heat of the moment battle and all is forgiven. Best of luck to Nico in the future," said Queally, with De Boinville adding: "I appreciate Declan and wish him the best."

After saddling Carrigmoornaspruce to finish 12th in the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle earlier on Thursday, Queally spoke to members of the press, where it was obvious tensions had begun to thaw.

"I can see how competitive it was down there and there's a lot of swearing and effing and blinding going on down at the start," said Queally. "Things got heated down there and I was where Nico wanted to be. What happened, happened. Look, everyone has cooled down now, thank God.

"I spoke to Davy Russell this morning and he said the starts are a disaster. There is a lot of swearing and effing going on down there and I can appreciate that as well and how much pressure everyone is under. All the jockeys are fired up and ready to go and things can be said that are not meant to be said. I appreciate that.

"If Matt Chapman hadn't caught me afterwards there might have been nothing about it. My blood was up and Nico's blood was up at the start. He probably shouldn't have said what he said but I think people should probably enjoy the Cheltenham Festival rather than the media swarming around me. It's a silly kind of a thing now."

Despite saying all was forgiven on camera, he stood by his comments from Wednesday regarding a racial comment being directed towards him.

ITV broadcast footage of Nico de Boinville (left) and Declan Queally exchanging words at the start of the Turners Novices' Hurdle

"There was effing and blinding, and there was a racial comment thrown as we cantered in. I've told the BHA but I'd prefer to enjoy my day," he added.

Queally said the starts had become a problem in both Britain and Ireland, urging the authorities to address the current situation which he believes is out of hand.

"Starts are a nightmare across the board for everybody," he added. "For young jockeys and for jockeys like myself who don't ride a lot, we feel pressurised to rush down to the start. You've superior jockeys who think they own the starts and then this is where the abuse [starts].

"I've got three or four conditionals working for me and I speak to them about the starts in Ireland because lads get bullied at the start and it's happening all the time.

"I think maybe the BHA and the Turf Club need to start looking at the American system where you get a draw and you have to line up along the track [in draw order]. There's no such thing as fighting and swearing. The whole thing needs to be addressed."

The BHA said the investigation into the incident would proceed regardless of the riders' rapprochement.

A spokesperson said: “When an allegation has been made it must be investigated. The inquiry process has begun, evidence is being gathered and once started, the process needs to be completed. We will continue to gather and consider any relevant evidence as part of this.”

Read these next . . .

Nico de Boinville categorically denies allegation of racial abuse during chaotic Turners start 

Allegation of racial abuse towards Declan Queally lodged with stewards after spat with Nico de Boinville 

'Embarrassing' false starts at Cheltenham Festival should have been tackled ten years ago says John Francome 

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