Rogue Angel lifts spirits for emotional Mouse Morris in Fairyhouse fairytale

Sport’s ability to comfort the forlorn was seen to great effect yesterday as Rogue Angel provided venerable trainer Mouse Morris with an emotional success in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Morris has had his fair share of frustrations on the track in the last year with his string consistently performing well in major races before finding one too good.

The Cheltenham Festival provided a recent example, Alpha Des Obeaux beating all bar the exceptional Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle.

However, such disappointments pale into insignificance when compared to the shattering news Morris received last June when his son Christopher, a 30-year-old chef, died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while travelling in South America.

Consequently, the Tipperary handler’s raw emotion after Rogue Angel showed huge reserves of courage to beat Bless The Wings by a short head was understandable.

“It’s unbelievable. Tiffer (Christopher) was looking down on me today. He helped me there. That’s just special,” said Morris.

Later he revealed how focusing on his work helped him cope with his grief.

“The harder you work the better off you are,” he said. “You have bad days but thousands of people have been through it unfortunately.”

Morris, successful earlier in the card with Just Cause, expressed the hope that talking about his son’s death would encourage people to install carbon monoxide alarms.

“A lot of people don’t keep carbon monoxide alarms in their houses. If that comes out of today I’ll be delighted.”

Referring to yesterday’s dramatic finale, Morris admitted unhappy memories of last year’s renewal came back to him when Bless The Wings loomed large at the last.

Then his Rule The World was beaten into second by Thunder And Roses with long-time leader Band Of Blood, another Morris charge, fading into fourth.

“I thought: ‘Here we go again’. Last year I had two jumping the last and they didn’t win but it was my day today so we’ll take it.”

Rogue Angel had proven his liking for an endurance test when winning the Kerry National last September.

“His two great attributes are he jumps and he stays all day,” said Morris, who also trained the fourth home, Folsom Blue.

“He was just fresh and well.” Morris won the Irish National as a jockey on Billycan in 1977 before training Hear The Echo to victory in 2008.

Yesterday’s triumph was special though.

“This one is better because of the year that’s in it – I’ve not had a great year to be honest,” he said.

Nobody would or could begrudge him his moment of glory.