Il Etait Temps Secures Cheltenham Glory in Incident-Packed Champion Chase
Il Etait Temps emerged victorious in a thrilling renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival, but the day was marred by off-track drama involving a jockey row and scrutiny over starting procedures. The horse, ridden by Paul Townend, survived a slip after the final fence to claim the prestigious title, while earlier incidents cast a shadow over the afternoon's racing.
Jockey Altercation Sparks Stewards' Inquiry
Before the Turners Novice Hurdle, a heated exchange occurred between jockeys Nico de Boinville and Declan Queally, with Queally accusing de Boinville of "horrific" abuse. De Boinville, riding Act Of Innocence, and Queally, on I'll Sort That, were seen arguing as the field of 21 runners jostled for position. The British Horseracing Authority later confirmed that stewards had opened an inquiry into the incident after a complaint from Queally, adjourning to gather further evidence.
Queally, an Irish amateur jockey, expressed his dismay to ITV Racing, stating, "being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, is not very nice. I'm an amateur, I'm coming over here riding in front of my kids and that, horrific." In response, de Boinville suggested Queally should "look in the mirror." The race eventually started after a false start, with Willie Mullins's King Rasko Grey winning.
Starting Procedures Under Fire
The Turners Novice Hurdle was not the only race where starting procedures faced criticism. Riders in the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle also voiced concerns, with Mark Walsh complaining, "they let them go when we weren't ready, it's just a joke," and Jack Kennedy noting, "there are too many runners, it's too tight and we're being packed together." This has led to increased scrutiny for upcoming hurdle events, as many races on Thursday and Friday feature maximum fields, including 22 runners in the Mares' Novice Hurdle and 24 in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle.
Champion Chase Victory for Il Etait Temps
In the Champion Chase itself, Il Etait Temps delivered a stunning performance under Paul Townend, overcoming a slip at the last fence to win. The victory completed a double for trainer Willie Mullins, following Lossiemouth's success in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle. Mullins praised Townend's bravery, saying, "I thought Paul was very brave on him because he couldn't go the pace they were setting for the first mile. He sat and sat, and coming down the hill we could all see that the further he was going, the better he was going."
Favourite Majborough, also trained by Mullins, struggled after a slip at the eighth fence, finishing seventh. Mullins reflected, "Majborough was going so well at home, but then he made that first little error, then the second one and it's hard. He makes life hard for himself. We will have to wait and see. Hopefully there is a big one in him one day." Il Etait Temps's win was particularly impressive given his recent fall at Ascot, showcasing Mullins's training prowess.
The Cheltenham Festival continues with heightened attention on starting protocols and jockey conduct, as racing enthusiasts anticipate more thrilling action in the days ahead.
