Can Highland Lodge be next emotional Aintree story?
Grand National outsider at his best over the famous fences
THE Aintree Grand National invariably throws up a compelling story and that of Highland Lodge includes a seriously injured jockey’s remarkable recovery and the tragic death of a teenager.
Snapped up for the modest fee of £22,000 by English trainer Jimmy Moffatt prior to the start of last season, the 11-year-old made a flying start for his new connections with victory over the famous Aintree fences in the Becher Chase.
However, that was not enough to earn him a starting berth in the world’s most famous steeplechase, with Highland Lodge narrowly missing the cut. Compensation in the Scottish National was not forthcoming, with the Flemensfirth gelding seemingly far less effective over conventional obstacles.
He showed his true colours back on Merseyside when coming within a short-head of successfully defending his Becher crown at the start of December.
Moffatt has kept his powder dry since and with Highland Lodge guaranteed a place in the final field this year, the trainer is struggling to contain his enthusiasm.
He said: ‘We’ve had an uninterrupted preparation and the horse seems in very good form. I suppose last year we were always in hope, whereas now there is a bit of expectation. He missed the final cut by seven last year and it was quite tough to take at the time.
‘However, we definitely feel he’s improved since. We’ve kept him fresh since the Becher. He doesn’t need to go to the races, he’s one of those horses that thrives on not going there. For a lot of horses mileage is a negative and he’s one of them.’
Higland Lodge is currently a 33-1 shot for Saturday’s race, which was won last year by Mouse Morris and his horse Rule The World.
Also at 33-1 this year are two Morris horses, Rogue Angel and Thunder And Roses. Both are Irish National winners and the pair are owned by Gigginstown House stud, who withdrew many of their more fancied horses in a row over the weights allocated for the race.
Rogue Angel and Thunder And Roses are not yet guaranteed a run and Irish hopes may lie elsewhere, particularly with the Gordon Elliotttrained pair Cause Of Causes and Ucello Conti and Pleasant Company from the Willie Mullins yard.
Highland Lodge’s owners are no strangers to Aintree National glory, David and Patricia Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud having also owned 1992 winner Party Politics.
As with that horse and another of this year’s runners Le Mercurey, the Thompsons have only purchased Highland Lodge in the run-up to the race, buying the horse from Simon and Julie Wilson – who tragically lost their teenage son Patrick from a brain tumour before last year’s failed attempt to get in the race.
It will still be a fitting and emotional tribute to his memory if a long-term plan were to come to fruition, but Moffatt said: ‘It’s very exciting to train for Mr and Mrs Thompson.
‘Simon and Julie have sold him outright. They have been with me since 2006 and have been wonderfully supportive. They wish Mr and Mrs Thompson all the luck in the world. Both parties are very happy.
‘I think the world of him and his back-to-back Becher form looks rock solid. From the moment he missed the cut last year everything has been geared up to going back to Aintree on April 8.
‘We’re not going there thinking
“it’s great to have a runner”, though. We’re going there a bit above that and see it as a great opportunity.’
The most heartwarming part of the Highland Lodge story is the recovery of his jockey, Henry Brooke.
The 25-year-old was placed in an induced coma following a heavy fall at Hexham in early October and also suffered nine broken ribs and a punctured lung. However, he made such quick progress that he was back in the saddle for Highland Lodge’s Becher defence. Brooke admits it was the thought of being reunited of Highland Lodge that kept him going following his life-threatening fall.
‘The first thing I thought about after Hexham was whether I could get back to ride this horse,’ said the jockey. ‘It would be a bit of a fairytale, but it could happen. The horse loves it round there (Aintree), which is obviously a massive plus. I really think Highland Lodge is going to run a massive race, if not win it.’