The top jockey was found in breach of the rules after he instructed the groom to turn his horse back against the flow of the parade for the Galway Hurdle

Danny Mullins was fined a total of £2,500 for his conduct near the crowd on a fractious horse trained by his uncle, champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Danny Mullins was riding Tounsivator, a 17-2 chance, in Thursday's Guinness Galway Hurdle, one of the Festival's two signature prizes. The 20 runners have to take part in a parade before the Grade 3 race but, after Tounsivator had trailed in a well beaten 16th behind Putapoundinthehar ridden by Dan King, the stewards called the Mullins team to an inquiry.

The report said: “The Raceday Stewards interviewed David Casey, Authorised Representative for W.P. Mullins, trainer of Tounsivator (FR),and D. E. Mullins, rider of Tounsivator, where it appeared Tounsivator was repeatedly turned back against the flow of the other parading horses and circled at the exit gate, causing congestion amongst the other runners.

“Evidence was heard from David Casey who stated that he was unaware that the horse had been turned back as he was with other riders and he further added that both he and all of W. P. Mullins' staff are conversant with the procedures.

“Evidence was also heard from D. E. Mullins, who stated that he had instructed the groom to turn the horse back as he did not want to be late down to the start.

“Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that W. P. Mullins was in breach of Regulation 16, as pursuant to Rule 148, and also D. E. Mullins was in breach of Regulation 16, by not allowing the horse to proceed around the parade ring prior to the signal to mount being given.

“Having considered W. P. Mullins' record in this regard (first offence) the Raceday Stewards fined W. P. Mullins €500 [£420] on this occasion.

“Having considered D. E. Mullins' record in this regard (first offence) the Raceday Stewards fined D. E. Mullins €500 [£420] on this occasion.

“Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that D. E. Mullins was in breach of Rule 272 (i), by his conduct in directing the groom to turn the horse back and forth across the grass when in close proximity to the crowd when it was already being quite fractious, and having considered his record in this regard (first offence) the Raceday Stewards fined D. E. Mullins €2,500 [£2,100]on this occasion.”