Turf Talk: Highland Lodge beavering way towards Grand National

James Moffatt believes Highland Lodge's performance in the Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday should be good enough to earn him a place in the Randox Health Grand National back there in April.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Dec 2016, 13:20 BST
Highland LodgeHighland Lodge
Highland Lodge

The 10-year-old was only touched off on the line by Vieux Lion Rouge in his bid to record back-to-back victories in three-and-a-quarter-mile test over the famous obstacles.

Moffatt felt that effort was better than the one that saw him victorious 12 months earlier when it was his first race since he bought the horse out of Emma Lavelle’s stable.

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Highland Lodge missed the cut for National last season, but the Cartmel handler expects him to get a run this time round on the back of that display.

“We were really proud of him on Saturday. Obviously, we’re all in there to win so it hurt for 30 seconds, but the way you have to look at it is that the horse came back after nine months off, so we did that right,” said Moffatt.

“The time of the Becher Chase was 18 seconds faster than last year. I think it was an improved run from last year.

“I’m thinking of the Grand National and that’s where we’re going.

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“I think he’ll go up a few pounds now and there’s the Aintree factor as well, so I think he’ll get in. We just missed out last year and that was a better performance. In my mind he’s cemented being a real National horse now.

“He was up 5lb in the Becher from last year and it was a better race this time.

“In two Becher Chases he’s not made one mistake.

“He hadn’t run since the Scottish National. I think he’s a horse that goes well fresh. My first instincts are to let the dust settle and then train him for the National. It’s only four months away.

“I think less is more with this horse. We can get him fit enough at home. Our gallop is seven furlongs long and rises 302 feet from the bottom to the top, so it’s a real pull up the gallop.”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

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HEXHAM: 12.15 Great Tempo, 12.45 My Little Cracker, 1.15 Smuggler’s Stash, 1.45 Floramoss, 2.15 Sharney Sike, 2.45 Bescot Springs, 3.15 Grand March.

KEMPTON: 3.45 Sentinel, 4.15 Pobbles, 4.45 Mikey Ready, 5.15 Mambo Dancer, 5.45 Gamrah, 6.15 Garter, 6.45 Inniscastle Lad, 7.15 Timekeeping.

LEICESTER: 12.55 Mercian Prince, 1.25 Bon Enfant (next best), 1.55 Diamond Life, 2.25 Silent Steps, 2.55 Mount Shamsan, 3.25 Behind The Wire.

LINGFIELD: 12.05 CONSTANTINO (NAP), 12.35 Brasted, 1.05 Mercy Me, 1.35 Maroc, 2.05 The Salmon Man, 2.35 Gallipoli, 3.05 Shining Romeo, 3.35 Hold Firm.

Related topics:Grand National