Michael Francis Leo Morris, Irish racehorse trainer and former amateur and professional jockey informally known as “Mouse” Morris, is born on April 4, 1951, in Spiddal, County Galway. 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 wins both the Grand National and Irish Grand National. He is formally known as the Honourable Michael Morris.

Morris is the third son of Michael Morris, 3rd Baron Killanin, who is president of the International Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1980 and Chairman of Ballybrit Racecourse from 1970 to 1985. His mother, Sheila, is the daughter of Canon Douglas Dunlop, Rector of Oughterard and the granddaughter of Henry Dunlop who is involved in the construction of  Lansdowne Road in 1872. During World War II his mother is a cryptographer at Bletchley Park. 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.”

Morris’s twin brother John (Johnny) becomes a photographer and marries Thelma Mansfield. Their elder brother, George Redmond, follows 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.

At the age of fifteen Morris’s formal education ends following his diagnosis with dyslexia. He then begins working at racing stables. He earns the nickname “Mouse” when he is an amateur rider.

Initially, Morris comes to prominence as an amateur jockey. In 1974 he rides  Mr. Midland to victory at  Cheltenham Racecourse giving Edward O’Grady his first Festival winner. In 1975 he turns professional. He rides Skymas in his successive victories in the 1976 and 1977 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He rides Billycan to victory in the 1977 Irish Grand National, a race he is subsequently to win twice as a trainer. His career as a rider ends after a fall in South Carolina‘s Colonial Cup.

Morris is based in Fethard, County Tipperary. In 1981, he takes out a licence and begins his National Hunt training career. Hus first major breakthrough comes when Buck House wins the 1983 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, giving him his first winner at Cheltenham.

The 1990s start brightly for the “Mouse” Morris yard when Trapper John, ridden by jockey Charlie Swan, wins the Stayers’ Hurdle at the 1990 Cheltenham Festival. The following year, Cahervillahow is beaten by a short head in the Irish Grand National and merely three weeks later in the Whitbread Gold Cup he is controversially judged to have interfered with runner-up Docklands Express in the closing stages. As a result, Docklands Express is awarded the race. He finishes second in the 1993 Grand National which is voided after a false start. He trains His Song who is one of the best novice hurdlers of the period. His Song finishes second behind the J. P. McManus owned Istabraq in the 1998 AIG Irish Champion Hurdle on his fourth race outing before again finishing second in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse. One of his most important wins as a trainer comes in 2006 when he sends 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. In 2008, he trains Hear The Echo to victory in the Irish Grand National. In 2011, he trains the winner of the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, First Lieutenant, ridden by Davy Russell. In 2016, he wins the Irish Grand National again this time with Rogue Angel. Also in 2016, he wins the Grand National for the first time with Rule The World.

Morris is married to Susanna Felicity Clark. They have two sons, James (Jamie) born in 1983 and Christopher (Tiffer) born in 1985. Tiffer dies at the age of 30 in June 2015 of carbon monoxide poisoning while traveling in Argentina.