Mouse Morris celebrated his inaugural triumph at the Cheltenham Festival in 1974, steering Mr Midland to a first-place finish in the National Hunt Chase for Edward O’Grady. This landmark victory similarly marked O’Grady’s debut win. Indeed, it was an achievement that occurred five decades ago, an impressive time span that Morris amusingly remarks as “a f***ing long time ago”.
Reflecting on the milestone, Morris jests about receiving a double pension. But he would rather not discuss retirement; he remains committed to the racing field. Generations down the line, he continues to be actively involved in the Cheltenham festival. Currently, he is grooming the dark horse Gentlemansgame for the forthcoming Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
Morris is reluctant to discuss the prospects of the grey horse at length, citing his annual tendency to become superstitious. He recognises the potential for months of careful planning to be disrupted by a single misstep, thus he avoids luring bad luck. Having had a lifetime experience in the racing industry, Morris acknowledges the invaluable insights acquired from age.
The public first knew him by his given name Michael, over half a century ago. However, shortly after the privately educated child of former Olympic Committee chair Lord Killanin resolved to pursue a jockey career, he got nicknamed “Mouse”—a sobriquet that has since become a signature name in racing circles. Today, at 72, he would no doubt repeat his choices, if given an opportunity.
Reflecting on the present condition of his profession, Morris laments the financial barriers confining the industry. Citing soaring prices of land, construction, and horses, he expresses relief at not being a newcomer in today’s environment. He reminisces about easier past times when he could negotiate with bank managers willing to gamble on him, a scenario he says is now highly improbable. He reflects, “What good is ticking the boxes if you have no luck?”
In 1980, the accidental career of a trainer commenced, representing the only viable option for a retired, injured jockey. This ex-jockey had quite the track record, including the famous victory he brought home for Skymas in the Champion Chase two years in a row (1976-77.) Over the years, the profession evolved, causing ample stress but also bringing five more exciting decades of the Cheltenham tradition that carries on today, a tradition drastically divergent from the one initially experienced by Morris and O’Grady.
Achieving victory at Cheltenham used to signify an extraordinary accomplishment, much revered. Despite it being a low-key event, the attendees, mainly individuals engaged in the racing world, relished such gatherings, as there was no pressure for fanfare, O’Grady reminisces. “It was easier to overlook if you weren’t a racing fanatic,” admits Morris.
The racing world has changed now, even the least interested individuals are informed about the noteworthy event taking place on the sloping terrain of Gloucestershire that will unfold next week, thanks to the ubiquitous publicity. What used to be an informal gathering of countryside punters, where Irish triumphs were treasured as a rarity, has now transitioned into an essential entry in the corporate calendar.
Only 15 years ago, O’Grady could proudly boast of being Ireland’s top trainer at Cheltenham. Even during the times of financial turbulences, he upheld the legacy of the likes of Vincent O’Brien and Tom Dreaper with a formidable 18 festival victories, the most memorable being the unfortunate Golden Cygnet in 1978. Like his former jockey, O’Grady continues to battle within the horse racing industry, facing formidable competition.
In 2011, Willie Mullins surpassed O’Grady’s record. The remarkable transformation of the festival since then is clearly reflected in the fact that Mullins needs just six more wins to achieve the one-time inconceivable feat of a hundred Cheltenham victories. With the backing of Gordon Elliott, there is a possibility that for the first time ever, Irish contenders might outnumber the domestic team next week.
“It never crossed my mind that there would be a day when a man [Mullins] would have 70 racers from the same stable. It truly is an exceptional notion,” says O’Grady.
In previous times, owning a large stable of four or five horses was considered an achievement. In modern times, however, that figure has dramatically increased with many owners maintaining a stable of over 30 horses, bringing a different dynamic to the racing scene. Morris, a veteran of the field, has only managed 35 horses in his yard in all his years, an achievement that stands out given his enumeration of key races at Cheltenham, with the Champion Hurdle being the only significant one he hasn’t conquered.
Morris’s race victories include Buck House’s win in the Champion Chase in 1986, Trapper John’s victory in the Stayers in 1990, and the crown jewel – War of Attrition securing the Gold Cup in 2006. Increasingly, however, these wins are becoming incongruous with the quantity of horses in a yard, leading Morris to argue that racing has now evolved into a numbers game.
Morris accepts this shift in the industry and acknowledges that it’s largely driven by big-budget owners. He suggests that it may be an oversimplification to claim that success at the sales auction equates to victory on the track, but he concedes there’s an element of truth in it.
The ability to stay the course has brought Morris remarkable success through the years, peaking in 2011 when his horse, First Lieutenant, became his seventh festival winner. In the space of twelve days in 2016, he accomplished an English and Irish Grand National double with his horses Rogue Angel and Rule The World.
Despite dealing with personal tragedies—the accidental death of his son ‘Tiffer’ and the sudden loss of his wife Maria in 2017—Morris reaffirms his dedication to the sport. He believes the quality of racing has decreased due to the extended four-day festival and highlights that the number of participants in the Triumph Hurdle has decreased. Despite these challenges, Morris remains committed to racing, a passion that forms a major part of his life.
In the past, exceptional mares were often run in the Champion Hurdle as there weren’t many other choices available. This heightened competition and excitement for the racing fans, making it an absolutely thrilling experience. However, O’Grady feels that recent changes have unfortunately diluted the competition, making the races less enthralling.
Moreover, this change has happened at the same time as the season has shrunk down to merely a prelude for the main event. For instance, preparing for Cheltenham, a task that now involves a great deal of shuffling, is confirmed to carry risks based on Constitution Hill’s withdrawal from the Champion Hurdle.
However, this isn’t the only concern. The consolidation of many exceptional horses in few stables, and Ireland’s surge in dominance, which was once unthinkable, are also areas of discussion. Drawing attention to the transformation of the National Hunt Chase over time, O’Grady notes that nowadays horses like Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale could compete. The conditions were different back in the day, with the race being open only for horses that started the season as maidens.
Comparatively, Mr Midland, champion of a bygone era, would find today’s competition daunting and might find himself left behind, considering the jumping difficulties he had. According to O’Grady, he was rather unpredictable with fences, either jumping them or simply smashing through!
Still, on the all-important racing day, Mr Midland secured his spot in festival history and brought immense joy to a couple of young aspiring racing enthusiasts. Recalling the turning point in his career, O’Grady humorously recounts how he suggested a ten percent deduction for training fees to the owner of the horse, only to be reminded about his good fortune in handling Mr Midland in the first place.
The racing event, once a humble affair that Mr. Midland’s jockey remembers galloping past timber stands, has truly evolved into a bustling commercial venture with a yearly quest to crown the supreme jumper. It has even eclipsed flat racing’s lesser standing. This development has brought both gains and losses. Even after half a century, the allure of the festival is as strong as ever.
“There’s always excitement around it. Racing extends beyond Cheltenham, but its significance is immense. I detest the expression ‘it’s our Olympics’. However, in truth, it’s right up there,” states Morris.
Morris plans to have one-tenth of his yard participating in the festival. This includes Foxy Jacks who may switch from the Cross-Country to the Pertemps Final, depending on the trainer’s valuation. Many might bet on Gentlemansgame’s ‘Blue Riband’ odds, even though the grey has a scant record of three starts over fences.
Speaking of Mr. Midland, indeed, those were the old days. Morris concedes that he reflects more now than his past days of coaching erratic jumpers. The anniversary wasn’t even a blip on his radar. “We don’t dwell on the past. We focus on what lies ahead.”