Grand National News
Look No Further Than Highland Lodge For The Grand National Tuesday 28th March 2017

Highland Lodge isn’t a household name in the horse racing industry... yet. He is based in James Moffatt’s small Cumbrian yard but that doesn’t mean that he cannot win the Grand National; arguably the biggest race in the business. At 10 years old, he has been around for a while but he only started to attract attention after winning the Becher Chase, also over the Aintree National fences, in December 2015.

Highland Lodge
© Racehorse Photos

Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength. His connections originally targeted him for this race last year but he didn’t make the weights; he will easily make the cut this time. In two appearances at Aintree, he has finished first and second; defeating last year’s National runner-up The Last Samuri in his last outing in Liverpool. Whilst ante post favourite Vieux Lion Rouge won that day, Highland Lodge’s form at Aintree commands respect.

Yet he hasn’t been respected in the betting ring just yet; you can still back him at a tempting 40/1 with most bookmakers. Bookmaker Ratings followers may be tempted by the free bet bonus available with bet365, especially if they are unwilling to stake their own funds on this relatively unknown quantity. If Highland Lodge turns up and performs as he can, punters are in for a real treat.

Despite all of his success at Aintree, he has been rated kindly in the weights – as if you need another reason to back him. The form book is positive, he has been rated fairly and he will go well. In previous races, he has tried to stretch the field by going all out but he might not be able to adopt that approach in this race. His rivals may be too good and too strong for that sort of battle.

Instead, his jockey – most likely Henry Brooke – should tuck him in and avert danger. In the National, that is almost impossible but steering clear of horses that veer left or right whilst jumping is always a clever move. Brooke may be young but he has gained a plethora of vital experience at the top level of National Hunt racing and he will do his utmost to get Highland Lodge into a good position early on.

Should Highland Lodge settle into the race, he has a fantastic chance of snatching a place. It would be foolish to predict a victory at 40/1 but he should certainly jump well and you’d fancy him to last the trip. Back against him at your peril, the National has a unique knack of throwing up a big winner and it could be Highland Lodge’s year to shine.