Rule The World helped put Gigginstown on a (Tiger) Roll

No owner has enjoyed more Randox Grand National success in recent times than Gigginstown House Stud. But before Tiger Roll etched his name into Aintree folklore, it all started 10 years ago when Rule The World conquered Merseyside.

Mouse Morris’ charge was still a maiden over fences when he descended on the north west, but with cautious optimism from his wily Fethard handler and a legion of Take That fans on their once-a-year visit to the bookmakers ensuring ever-decreasing odds, the nine-year-old was sent off 33-1 with National newcomer David Mullins ready for his starring role.

In the following nine and a half minutes, Rule The World would live up to his name and by 5.27pm on April 9, 2016, the eyes of the globe would be witnessing the jubilant scenes in Liverpool, Morris emerging from the tragic death of his son Christopher to add a National triumph to the Gold Cup he had won a decade prior.

“He probably went into the race with not much chance on paper and had never actually won a race over fences going into it,” explained Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.

“But he was trained by a brilliant, brilliant trainer and he fancied him and when he fancies one they are not usually far away.

“He jumped and travelled, and the further he got into the race you start to wonder if he actually has a chance. It just kept getting better and better and better, and he won very well.”

It was somewhat fitting that the man who gave Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary his first triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with War Of Attrition would be the one to provide the first of what would be a trio of memorable April afternoons on Merseyside.

“Everyone wants to win a Grand National,” said Eddie O’Leary on what winning the Grand National meant to the Gigginstown team. “The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the blue riband, but the stories and photographs you get from winning a Grand National are different.

“I’d say when you’ve won one you never expect to win another, you are just thankful you have had your fill.”

For all Rule The World’s brilliance, only two years later his achievements would arguably be eclipsed by the emergence of the greatest Grand National horse of the modern generation.

The incomparable Tiger Roll, expertly primed to Aintree perfection by Gigginstown’s most trusted lieutenant Gordon Elliott, would enter the history books by becoming the first horse since the indomitable Aintree legend Red Rum to go back-to-back on Merseyside, galloping his way into the hearts and minds of the wider public in the process.

He would never get the chance to emulate Red Rum, as first the coronavirus pandemic and then the unwavering battle of wills between the handicapper and the Ryanair chief scuppered hopes of Tiger Roll emulating ‘Rummy’, still the only three-time National hero.

“He was an absolute freak,” continued O’Leary.

“Gordon trained him masterfully and he’s exceptional at preparing a horse like Tiger Roll. He is a master trainer and unfortunately he has just been born in the same era as Willie Mullins. We’ve always enjoyed some great days with Gordon.

“You felt the history of what he was achieving massively – it was a pity we didn’t want to risk him with so much weight when we would have loved for him to go for the hat-trick.”

Unbeaten over the famous spruce, the legacy of the pint-sized son of Authorized, a horse bred for Classic honours but turned National king, remains to this day.

Not only do many follow his tried-and-tested pathway to Aintree, but for his owners, Tiger Roll’s place among the pantheon of the best to don the Gigginstown maroon is unquestioned.

O’Leary added: “You can’t forget he started off by winning a Triumph Hurdle and had won a National Hunt Chase and he was a busted flush, but the cross-country discipline got him back and sweetened him up – without the cross-country at Cheltenham there would be no Tiger Roll.

“The cross-country when it was a conditions race was a fantastic race for sweetening a horse up ahead of the Grand National, it wasn’t just Tiger Roll, there’s been others as well like Delta Work.

“Tiger Roll is right up there as one of the best horses we’ve ever had. War Of Attrition and Don Cossack won Gold Cups, but your man won two Grand Nationals and that was special.”

Now 2026 brings the quest for a fourth Grand National triumph and as expected, Gigginstown have both Elliott and a horse charting Tiger Roll’s path to rely on in Favori De Champdou.

Revitalised by the unique nature of the cross-country circuit at Prestbury Park, he narrowly failed to follow up his Festival Trials day success at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting.

He is joined in the famous colours by stablemate Stellar Story, but for perhaps one year only, they will also have an ally in the race in the form of Willie Mullins, who will apply the saddle to Quai De Bourbon.

“We’re planning on three in it this year,” explained O’Leary.

“Favori De Champdou is following that tried-and-tested cross-country route after finishing second at Cheltenham and is probably our best chance, but he will have to behave a bit better than he did at Cheltenham where he lost his top before the start, which is very unlike him.

“Given cut in the ground he would run well. The better the ground the better his chance for Quai De Bourbon, but we hope he can run a nice race, while for Stellar Story it is the opposite and he needs it soft.

“If he got decent cut in the ground Stellar Story could surprise – his form is much superior on softer ground.”