AINTREE Grand National winner Rule The World has been retired.

The decision was made by owners Gigginstown House Stud following discussions with trainer Mouse Morris and jockey Bryan Cooper. The nine-year-old begins his new life at Gigginstown’s Co Westmeath base this weekend.

A British-bred son of Sulamani, Rule The World made a winning debut at Affane point-to-point in November 2011. He raced 11 times over hurdles, winning five times, including the Grade 2 Slaney Hurdle in Naas. He finished second in the Grade 1 Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2013, beaten by just four lengths by The New One.

Later that year the horse suffered the first of two serious pelvic injuries which kept him off the track for almost two years.

Rule The World ran 15 times over fences, finishing second on seven occasions including the Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse in April 2015. His only win over fences came in the £1 million Aintree Grand National last month. The horse came out of the race well enough to be allowed tackle Grade 1 company at the recent Punchestown Festival but finished a well-beaten sixth.

Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown House Stud, said: “We feel Rule The World has nothing left to achieve. Our first concern must be for the well-being of the horse, and we feel it would be unfair to run him next season as a 10-year-old, asking him to carry heavier weights.

“Mouse, Bryan, and I feel the right thing to do is to retire him now. He will enjoy a well-deserved retirement in the paddocks in Gigginstown where he will join War Of Attrition, Last Instalment, and some of our other distinguished retirees.”

Mouse Morris said: “I believe that retiring Rule The World is the right thing to do for the horse, who has been an outstanding servant for myself and all the team at Everardsgrange. He is a half-brother to Venalmar, and Elysian Rock, both of whom were multiple winners for me, so I know the family well.

“I believe he would have gone all the way to the top as a possible Gold Cup horse if he hadn’t suffered repeated pelvic injuries. His bravery and courage in returning from these injuries to finish second in an Irish Grand National, and then win at Aintree shows what a talented, brave, and courageous horse he is.

“I hope he will enjoy a long, and well-earned retirement with War Of Attrition and other champions at Gigginstown House.”

Rule The World and stable companion Rogue Angel, who won this year’s Irish Grand National, were paraded at Tipperary Racecourse on Thursday night and at Kilbeggan last evening.