Grand National 2016: Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary rules the world as Mouse Morris pays tribute to late son

O'Leary watched as his horse, Rule The World, ran to victory in the Grand National to seal an emotional double for trainer Morris

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary celebrates after his horse, Rules The World, won the Grand National (Getty)

Trainer Mouse Morris admitted he was “lost for words” after witnessing his horse, Rule The World, win the 2016 Grand National just a year after his son died in a tragic carbon monoxide accident in Argentina.

Morris was able to boast victories in both the Irish National and Saturday’s showcase race at Aintree within weeks of each other, and he was quick to pay tribute to his late son, Christopher, who passed away last summer from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

Having trained Rogue Angel to victory on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse race course in County Meath, an emotional Morris admitted he had his own guardian angel to thank for yesterday’s success.

"I don't know what to say,” Morris said after seeing David Mullins ride Rule The World to victory. “To have the two in a couple of weeks is unbelievable. I've a lad who's doing overtime for me up above.

"He (Rule The World) wasn't badly named, was he?"

Trainer Mouse Morris lost his son, Christopher, last summer (Getty)

The victory also gave Ryanair chief executive officer Michael O’Leary a Cheltenham and Aintree double, having seen another of his chargers in Don Cossack win the Gold Cup last month.

Having landed the £561,300 prize for first place, O’Leary had plenty of reason to smile afterwards – and not just because of the low-fare airline’s predicted saving of more than €430m for the next financial year due to falling fuel costs.

O’Leary owns Rule The World along with his brother Eddie, with the pair responsible for the training of the nine-year-old though their Gigginstown House Stud stable, and the half-a-million windfall adds to the £313,000 he collected for Don Cossack’s victory.

"This horse has had two broken pelvises and been brought back each time,” said O’Leary. “I am just lost for words and that does not happen for very often."