Paul Nicholls has strongly criticised the ongoing false start issues that have disrupted racing at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, describing the situation as “shambolic” and “embarrassing.”
Despite an extensive British Horseracing Authority (BHA) investigation ahead of the 2026 meeting aimed at eliminating the multiple false starts that marred the 2025 event, problems persist. Racing officials have had to suspend jockeys for improper conduct at the starting gates, adding fuel to the controversy.
A particularly contentious incident occurred during Wednesday’s Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle, when Irish amateur Declan Queally and professional jockey Nico de Boinville clashed fiercely while jostling for position before the tape lifted. Queally later alleged he was subjected to racially charged remarks, prompting a separate inquiry by the stewards.
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Caught in the chaos was Nicholls’ stable star No Drama This End, the market favourite and the trainer’s key hope at the Festival, who was ultimately withdrawn. Nicholls, also a Betfair ambassador, insisted that the horse’s poor start and subsequent traffic issues were not due to the ground conditions, reiterating that No Drama This End has previously won on similar terrain.
“I don’t think the ground was No Drama This End’s undoing,” Nicholls told the Mirror. “Some of the starts at Cheltenham have been embarrassing this week but nobody seems to listen and the opinions of top racing professionals fall on deaf ears.”
He added, “No Drama This End missed the break from a standing start, got caught up in traffic, and was never competitive. We can only put the race behind us and move on. But the starts have been shambolic.”
In response, the BHA announced plans for a comprehensive review of the Festival’s starting procedures. The body had partnered with the Professional Jockeys’ Association and the Jockey Club last year to make improvements, including adjustments to starting locations and efforts to clarify rules and procedures to all riders.
An official BHA statement acknowledged the need for further action: “Following this year’s events, it is clear more needs to be done. We will launch a full review focused specifically on the Cheltenham Festival. Outside the Festival, starting procedures are effective, with only about 3% of jump starts resulting in false starts.”
The review will scrutinise various factors unique to Cheltenham, such as course configuration, perspectives of riders from different jurisdictions and licence types, race starting processes and preliminaries, technology used, and penalties for rule violations.
Brant Dunshea, BHA Chief Executive, expressed understanding for the frustrations voiced by jockeys, trainers, and punters. “It’s been a tremendous two days of racing so far, but we share the concerns about the starts. Our starters—many former jockeys—are trusted professionals, and data shows that starting procedures generally work well outside this Festival.”
He continued, “Cheltenham presents unique challenges that proved difficult to overcome despite measured changes made in collaboration with jockeys before the Festival. We will conduct a thorough review ahead of next year and continue consulting riders during the remaining races this week to improve race starts.”