Well-deserved moment of joy in a year of heartache

Yesterday provided a well-deserved moment of joy in a year of heartache for trainer Mouse Morris as Rogue Angel fought back tenaciously to edge out Urano in a thrilling finish in the Kerry Grand National.

Not for the first time this year the closing stages of a major race looked set to provide Morris with glory as Rogue Angel led the field into the straight with stablemate Rule The World and the Willie Mullins-trained Urano the only two apparent dangers.

Bitter experience thought Morris to be cautious though. In the Irish Grand National in April, Rule The World and Band Of Blood, another Morris charge, jumped the last alongside Thunder And Roses. Band Of Blood would weaken into fourth while Rule The World had to settle for second behind Thunder And Roses. Frustration.