Master Mullins brings Light back from brink to win big one again

Riven Light went back-to-back in The Colm Quinn BMW Mile Premier Handicap as Willie Mullins doubled up on the day at Galway in the feature.

Nephew Danny was entrusted with the spin, and he landed the day two highlight again after success on his father Tony's Rock And Roll Kid in 2009.

This was a sensational weight carrying performance as on his first start since suffering a potentially life threatening injury at Caulfield Australia in October, the Raven's Pass gelding travelled around supremely well lumping all of ten stone one.

Drawn out wide in eighteen, Riven Light soon raced in mid-division, and he made progress in eighth two furlongs out.

He moved well into third a furlong out, and ridden to lead in the last 150 yards, the 11/1 chance kept on well in the closing stages to keep the strong finishing Bond Street at bay by three parts of a length. Rionach also saw it out well - after a slow start - to end up a length off them in third.

"Danny gave him a great ride - he was ice cool and he took the Aubrey route (McMahon on Uradel) from yesterday," said Mullins, earlier on the mark with Pakora in the opener.

"He put him asleep and that was the plan.

"This horse suffered a fracture in Australia and it was touch and go whether he'd even live or not. He had two screws inserted in his leg but they had to come out eventually and all we were doing coming here was hoping. We said we'd plan an autumn campaign for him after this if things went alright.

"Adrenaline kicks in on the racetrack and that must have been what's happened there.

"It's a huge surprise but we're delighted.

"He has huge speed but we weren't sure if he'd retained it or not. We were delighted to see all the rain to put a bit of ease in the ground for him.

"I think he could even go a bit further on a less demanding track."

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Rionach (GB), trained by M.D. O'Callaghan, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

R.P. Whelan, rider of Saltonstall (GB) trained by M.Halford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.

W.J. Lee, rider of What's The Story (GB) trained by Keith Dalgleish (in GB), reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got no run in the straight.

(EM)