Highland Lodge may not run again before Grand National

Jimmy Moffatt is seriously considering heading straight for the Grand National with Highland Lodge following his impressive victory over the famous Aintree fences in Saturday’s Becher Chase.

Making his first appearance for the Cumbria-based trainer having previously shown smart form for Emma Lavelle, the nine-year-old raced from out of the handicap in the Merseyside feature but jumped brilliantly in the hands of Henry Brooke on his way to running out a decisive winner.

Moffatt said: “He’s come out of the race absolutely grand. He’s eaten up and I think he’s grown a hand since the race!