Danny Mullins has played down his altercation with cousin Patrick Mullins following the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Thursday.

Patrick ultimately claimed a comfortable victory in the race on board his father Willie’s Gaelic Warrior, with Danny five and a half lengths back in second on stablemate Il Etait Temps.

However, the pair did come close when Danny attempted to sneak up the inner on the run to the second-last and Patrick appeared to react angrily to that incident as they pulled up after the finishing line.

The stewards looked into the episode but Danny later made light of the whole affair via his regular diary on the Tote Twitter site.

He joked: “The main question on everybody’s lips is what did Patrick say? I don’t fully recall what he did say, I think it was something along the lines of ‘Danny, get a haircut’, but I’m happy with my hair as it is at the moment.”

On a more serious note, Danny added: “It’s one of those things, I’m always going to ride to win the race and that’s what I have to do for my owners and we had a go and unfortunately I finished second – but we had a go and that was the main thing.”

Regarding the incident approaching the penultimate fence, Patrick Mullins earlier said: “I told Danny going out that there will be a gap on my inside going down to the second-last and ‘do not come for it’ but he hasn’t listened to me. Luckily it didn’t get the two of us beaten.”

Willie Mullins was at Leopardstown, where he told Racing TV with a wry smile: “I had my son and my nephew trying to kill each other going to the second-last. I don’t know what Patrick said to Danny, but I don’t imagine they’ll be going home in the same car anyhow!

“Danny was riding his horse and he had to try to go for Grade One glory on his horse. Anyhow, it will make fun for this evening when we are disseminating the whole thing.”

The stewards investigated the incident two out and took no action, but also inquired about Patrick Mullins’ post-race comments.

The report read: “The Raceday Stewards interviewed Mr. P.W. Mullins, rider of Gaelic Warrior, and D.E. Mullins, rider of Il Etait Temps, regarding comments made to the media about an incident on the run to the second-last.

“Mr. P.W. Mullins stated that he had advised D.E. Mullins during a conversation prior to the race that he would be leaving a gap down the inner to get a breather into his horse and he advised him not to go for it.

“D.E. Mullins confirmed the conversation happened as such. Having considered all the evidence, the Raceday Stewards referred the matter on to a Senior Racing Official.”

Patrick Mullins is relishing the prospect of partnering the hugely exciting Gaelic Warrior in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

The record-breaking amateur memorably rode Faugheen to land the Patrickswell circuit’s festive feature four years ago when getting the better of a much-anticipated clash with Samcro, and he has high hopes of repeating the feat on another Rich Ricci-owned star on Thursday.

“Winning on Faugheen was one of the highlights of my career so far, a day I’ll never forget,” said Mullins.

“I’m very excited to get back on Gaelic Warrior, I rode him last year in the Ballymore and we were second behind Impaire Et Passe.

“It looks an ideal race for him on soft ground, going right-handed over an intermediate trip.”

Gaelic Warrior won four times over hurdles, including at Grade One level, but could scale even greater heights over the larger obstacles judged on the manner of his debut at Punchestown last month.

However, with a clutch of talented rivals lying in wait – including a top-class stablemate in Il Etait Temps – Mullins is taking nothing for granted.

He added: “It’s a competitive race. American Mike beat Fact To File and has form with Facile Vega, Il Etait Temps is a Grade One winner and the other two horses (Lucid Dreams and Inothewayurthinkin) are no slouches either, so there’s no no-hoper in the race.

“Gaelic Warrior was very good in Punchestown. I think the more races he has, the less fresh he gets, but he seems to enjoy chasing, so hopefully we can have another day to remember.”

Patrick Mullins is relishing the prospect of partnering the hugely exciting Gaelic Warrior in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

The record-breaking amateur memorably rode Faugheen to land the Patrickswell circuit’s festive feature four years ago when getting the better of a much-anticipated clash with Samcro, and he has high hopes of repeating the feat on another Rich Ricci-owned star on Thursday.

“Winning on Faugheen was one of the highlights of my career so far, a day I’ll never forget,” said Mullins.

“I’m very excited to get back on Gaelic Warrior, I rode him last year in the Ballymore and we were second behind Impaire Et Passe.

“It looks an ideal race for him on soft ground, going right-handed over an intermediate trip.”

Gaelic Warrior won four times over hurdles, including at Grade One level, but could scale even greater heights over the larger obstacles judged on the manner of his debut at Punchestown last month.

However, with a clutch of talented rivals lying in wait – including a top-class stablemate in Il Etait Temps – Mullins is taking nothing for granted.

He added: “It’s a competitive race. American Mike beat Fact To File and has form with Facile Vega, Il Etait Temps is a Grade One winner and the other two horses (Lucid Dreams and Inothewayurthinkin) are no slouches either, so there’s no no-hoper in the race.

“Gaelic Warrior was very good in Punchestown. I think the more races he has, the less fresh he gets, but he seems to enjoy chasing, so hopefully we can have another day to remember.”