HIGHLAND SWITCHES OWNER

GRAND NATIONAL hope Highland Lodge has been sold and will race in the colours of Patricia Thompson at Aintree a week today. The Jimmy Moffatt-trained contender, who will still be ridden by Henry Brooke, is one of two runners in the race for Thompson, who owns the successful Cheveley Park Stud with husband David. Earlier this week, she purchased the Paul Nicholls-trained Le Mercurey. Thompson won the 1992 Grand National with Party Politics, who was also bought just before the race. That deal and the one to buy Highland Lodge were both brokered by bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley. Highland Lodge won the 2015 Becher Chase over the Aintree fences and was beaten a short-head in the 2016 running. Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, said: ‘Mr and Mrs Thompson love the National and are passionate about their horses.’