Written 2 years ago by Will O'Callaghan

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Rule the World did just that at Aintree this afternoon when landing an emotional victory in the Crabbie’s Aintree Grand National.

In doing so the 33-1 winner was giving trainer Mouse Morris and owners Gigginstown House Stud their second Grand National in just over two weeks after Rogue Angel’s victory in the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse, and handed young jockey David Mullins a win in the National in his first ever ride in the race.

Rain fell all afternoon in Liverpool and meant stamina was at a premium – that was no issue to a handful of Irish horses and four Irish-trained horses filled the first five places home.

This was a spectacular training achievement by Morris who nursed this horse back from two serious pelvis injuries, preparing him expertly for the biggest win of his career. Mullins, a son of trainer Tom and nephew of champion trainer Willie, may still be in his teenage years but delivered a cool ride that belied his youth, waiting until after the final fence to deliver a telling challenge, circling the joint-favourite The Last Samuri and 100-1 shot Vics Canvas.

The victory gives Gigginstown House Stud, owned by Michael O’Leary, their second big chase win in England this season having also won March’s Cheltenham Gold Cup with Don Cossack.

Result: first, Rule The World 33-1; The Last Samuri was back in second at 8-1 (joint-favourite); the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Vics Canvas was third at 100-1; Gilgamboa, for Enda Bolger, was fourth at 28-1. Most bookmakers paid out on the fifth home and that was the well-backed Goonyella at 10-1.

Image – Michael Steele/Getty Images

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