Mouse Morris

Last updated

Mouse Morris
Full nameMichael Morris
Occupation Trainer
Born (1951-04-04) 4 April 1951 (age 73)
Spiddal, Co Galway, Ireland
Major racing wins
Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1983)
Queen Mother Champion Chase (1986)
Christie's Foxhunter Chase (1986)
Stayers' Hurdle (1990)
Grand Annual Chase (2005)
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2006)
Neptune Novices' Hurdle (2011)
Irish Grand National (2008, 2016)
The Grand National (2016)
Significant horses
Buck House, Trapper John, Cahervillahow, War Of Attrition, First Lieutenant, Rule The World

Michael "Mouse" Morris, formally the Hon. Michael Morris, (born 4 April 1951) is an Irish racehorse trainer and former amateur and professional jockey. As a trainer, he has won the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and has won the Irish Grand National twice. In 2016, he won both the Grand National and Irish Grand National double.

Contents

Early life

Morris was born in Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland [1] and is the third son of Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin, who was president of the International Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1980 and Chairman of Galway Racecourse from 1970 to 1985. [2] His mother, Sheila, was the daughter of Canon Douglas Dunlop, Rector of Oughterard and the granddaughter of Henry Dunlop who was involved in the construction of Lansdowne Road in 1872. [3] During World War II his mother was a cryptographer at Bletchley Park. [4] According to Morris, "she was in Hut 6, but she wouldn't ever talk about it. Neither of them would talk about the war. She was bound by the Official Secrets Act, but whatever she did, she got an MBE for it." [4]

Morris's twin brother John "Johnny" became a photographer and married Thelma Mansfield. Their elder brother, George Redmond "Red", followed in the footsteps of their father, Lord Killanin, by becoming a film producer. His credits include The Reader . They also have one sister, Monica Deborah. [5] [6] [7] [8]

At aged fifteen his formal education ended following his diagnosis with dyslexia. Morris then began working at racing stables. [9] He earned the nickname "Mouse" when he was an amateur rider. [10]

Family

Morris was married to Susanna Felicity Clark. They had two sons, James "Jamie" born in 1983 and Christopher "Tiffer" born in 1985. Tiffer died in June 2015, aged 30, of carbon monoxide poisoning while travelling in Argentina. [6] [11] [12] [13]

Jockey

Initially, Morris came to prominence as an amateur jockey. In 1974 he rode Mr Midland to victory at Cheltenham giving Edward O'Grady his first Festival winner. [14] In 1975 he turned professional. [15] He rode Skymas in his successive victories in 1976 and 1977 the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He rode Billycan to victory in the 1977 Irish Grand National, a race he was subsequently to win twice as a trainer. His career as a rider was over after a fall in South Carolina's Colonial Cup. [9]

Trainer

Morris is based in Fethard Co Tipperary. [16] In 1981, he took out a licence and began his National Hunt training career. [15] Morris's first major breakthrough came when Buck House won the 1983 Supreme Novice Hurdle, giving him his first winner at Cheltenham. [14]

The 1990s started brightly for the Mouse Morris yard when Trapper John ridden by jockey Charlie Swan won the Stayers' Hurdle at the 1990 Cheltenham Festival. The following year Cahervillahow was beaten by a short head in the Irish Grand National [17] and merely three weeks later in the Whitbread Gold Cup he was controversially judged to have interfered with runner-up Docklands Express in the closing stages. As a result, Docklands Express was awarded the race. [18] He finished second in the 1993 Grand National which was voided after a false start. [19] Morris trained His Song who was one of the best novice hurdlers of the period. [14] His Song finished second behind the J. P. McManus owned Istabraq [20] in the 1998 AIG Irish Champion Hurdle on his fourth race outing before again finishing second in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. [21] One of Morris's most important wins as a trainer came in 2006 when he sent out the seven-year-old gelding War Of Attrition to win the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup, beating another Irish challenger Hedgehunter on Saint Patrick's Day. [22] In 2008, he trained Hear The Echo to victory in the Irish Grand National. In 2011, he trained the winner of the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, First Lieutenant, ridden by Davy Russell. In 2016, he won the Irish Grand National again this time with Rogue Angel. Also in 2016, he won the Grand National for the first time with Rule The World. [23]

Major wins

Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Walsh</span> Irish jockey

Rupert "Ruby" Walsh is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of all time, Walsh is the third most prolific winner in British and Irish jump racing history behind only Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Geraghty</span> Irish jockey

Barry Geraghty is a retired Irish jockey. He is the second most successful jockey of all time at the Cheltenham Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kicking King</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1998–2023)

Kicking King was a National Hunt racehorse trained in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for completing the King George VI Chase-Cheltenham Gold Cup double in the 2004/05 National Hunt season. He was ridden in all his races over jumps by Barry Geraghty.

John Joseph "Jonjo" O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England. O'Neill twice won the British Champion Jockey title and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the mare, Dawn Run who became the only horse to complete the double of winning the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. He won 900 races as a jockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Walsh</span>

Ted Walsh is an Irish amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer who was born and raised in County Cork but based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Ted is also father to amateur Irish National Hunt jockey, Katie Walsh and professional national hunt jockey Ruby Walsh.

Charlie Swan is a former top National Hunt jockey in Ireland in the 1990s. He is associated with the great Istabraq, on whom he won three Champion Hurdles. He was twice top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival and was champion National Hunt jockey in Ireland for nine consecutive years. After retiring as a jockey he spent several years a trainer, based in Modreeny near Cloughjordan, County Tipperary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Nicholls (horse racing)</span> English horse trainer

Paul Frank Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007–08 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money. As of April 2023, he has trained over 3,500 winners, won the 2012 Grand National, four Cheltenham Gold Cups and has been crowned British jump racing Champion Trainer fourteen times.

Robbie "Puppy" Power is a retired National Hunt jockey. The son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, Robbie Power rode the 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 14 April 2007. It was his second Grand National ride after his Grand National debut in 2005. In 2011 he had his first Cheltenham Festival winner in the RSA Chase. In 2017 he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup on Sizing John. He also won the Irish Grand National on Our Duke.

Gordon Elliott is a County Meath-based National Hunt racehorse trainer. After riding as an amateur jockey, he took out a trainer's licence in 2006. He was 29 when his first Grand National entry, the 33 to 1 outsider Silver Birch, won the 2007 race. In 2018 and 2019 he won the Grand National with Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the first horse since Red Rum to win the race twice. In 2018 he also won the Irish Grand National, with General Principle. On two occasions, in 2017 and 2018, he was the top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Johnson (jockey)</span> English National Hunt jockey (born 1977)

Richard Johnson is a retired English National Hunt jockey. Johnson is the second most prolific winner in the history of National Hunt Racing behind Sir Anthony McCoy, a long-time rival of Johnson's, with over 3500 winners. Richard Dunwoody previously held the record with 1874.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davy Russell</span> Irish National Hunt jockey

Davy Russell is an Irish retired National Hunt jockey. He was Irish jump racing Champion Jockey three times, and won the Grand National (twice), the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Attrition (horse)</span> Irish racehorse (1999–2022)

War of Attrition was a National Hunt racehorse and winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial Call</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Imperial Call was an Irish racehorse. He was a specialist steeplechaser who ran thirty-two times and won sixteen races under National Hunt rules. After showing promise as a hurdler and novice chaser, Imperial Call emerged as a top-class jumper with a win in the Hennessy Gold Cup in February 1996. A month later, he became the first Irish-trained horse for ten years to win Britain's most prestigious steeplechase, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. His subsequent career was disrupted by injury problems but he won further major races including the Punchestown Chase in 1998 and the Punchestown Gold Cup in 1999. Unlike most modern racehorses, Imperial Call was not a Thoroughbred.

Edward O'Grady is an champion Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, O'Grady was the leading Irish trainer at Cheltenham by number of winners. He was played by Pierce Brosnan in the 1980 film Murphy's Stroke.

Dessie Hughes was an Irish racehorse trainer and jockey. He was the father of British champion jockey, Richard Hughes, and won at the Cheltenham Festival as both jockey and trainer.

Jessica Jane Harrington is an Irish professional horse trainer. Harrington specialises in National Hunt racing but has also had success in Flat racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sizing John</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sizing John is a British-bred, Irish trained thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is trained by Jessica Harrington and owned by Ann and Alan Potts, and is best known for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2017. He has been ridden in most of his races by Jonathon Burke, but has more recently been ridden Robbie Power, including all four of his Grade 1 wins over fences. He also won a Grade 1 over Hurdles, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2014, and spent much of his early chasing career finishing second or third in races won by Douvan, widely regarded as one of the best chasers of recent times.

Paul Townend is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Lisgoold in County Cork and rides primarily for the stable of Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He is a six-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey. He was champion in the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.

Rachael Blackmore MBE is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. In 2021, she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in the 182-year history of the race. She also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle, in 2021. The following year she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Henry de Bromhead is an Irish horse trainer who specialises in training horses for National Hunt racing. He has trained a number of Grade 1 winners including Sizing John and Honeysuckle, and is based at stables in Knockeen, County Waterford

References

  1. ↑ "Mouse Morris | Donn McClean Racing". donnmcclean.com.
  2. ↑ Hyland, Francis (2008). History Of Galway Races.
  3. ↑ Collins, Liam (4 March 2007). "Double blow to Gold Cup trainer". Irish Independent . Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Grand National build-up: The Mouse who roared". The Independent . London. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. ↑ O'Brien, Stephen (30 April 1999). "Haughey in tribute to Lord Killanin". Irish Independent . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 Collins, Liam (4 June 2015). "Great tragedy for family steeped in sport and history". Irish Independent . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page – 38693: Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin". The Peerage. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Berry, Claire (28 July 2012). "Lord of Ballybrit". The Irish Field .
  9. 1 2 Mouse Morris: His Extraordinary Racing Life. ASIN   1905172850.
  10. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/36007100
  11. ↑ Wood, Greg (9 April 2016). "Emotional trainer Mouse Morris wins the Grand National after year of tragedy". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Feehan, Conor (4 June 2015). "Trainer Mouse's tragic son was coming home to open own restaurant". The Herald . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page – 49042: Hon. Michael Francis Leo Morris". The Peerage. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 "Michael Mouse Morris". Go Racing.ie. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  15. 1 2 "Mouse Morris Jump Trainer". www. Racehorse Trainers .co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Homepage Official website" . Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Race Result Fairyhouse". irishracing.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  18. ↑ Hughes, Clive (23 April 1993). "Swan returns to pursue justice: Ireland's champion rider seeks redress in tomorrow's Whitbread Gold Cup". The Independent . London. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Goggin, Eddie. "The Grand National". The Cork Independent . Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  20. ↑ "Istabraq (IRE)". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "Race Result Leopardstown" . Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  22. ↑ Sport (18 March 2006). "War of Attrition wins Gold Cup". London: Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Rule the World Gives Mouse Morris Grand National Double". Irish Times . 9 April 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.