TRAINER James Moffatt is facing a whole new set of challenges as he readies Highland Lodge for a tilt at the Grand National next month.

While last year and the first two months of this year were all about getting him into the big race at Aintree, the aim now to make sure he gets there unscathed.

Highland Lodge is guaranteed to be one of the 40 runners in Liverpool on Saturday, April 8, all aiming for the biggest prize in steeplechasing in front of a worldwide TV audience of millions.

The staff at Moffatt's Cartmel stable are working hard to make sure the 11-year-old makes it to Aintree in perfect shape, looking to build on his 2015 success in the Becher Chase over the same fences, and a second-placed finish in December's renewal.

“Now we're in, we have to get him there in one piece,” said Moffatt, who saw Highland Lodge miss out on a place in last year's National by the narrowest of margins on the handicap, but whose mount is now set to be at least number 29 for this year's running. “That brings a whole new set of challenges, because we have to work him very hard and keep him bright and fresh.

“I was speaking to David Pipe the other day about Vieux Lion Rouge (the 10/1 favourite, who beat Highland Lodge at the line in the Becher Chase over National fances in December), and he is doing the same thing, keeping him fresh. Gordon Elliott is doing the same as well.

“You want to protect them now. The horses who run better when they are fresh, you don't want to spoil that by running them before.

“It's all very exciting. It's exciting for my whole team. We're delighted.”

He added: “It's a relief that we get in, but at the same time we know there is a lot of work to do between now and then. We've got to get him right now, and there is the pressure that goes with that.

“We'd rather have that pressure than the pressure of horses who are maybe not so good and aren't in races like this. It's a great pressure to have.

“The girls thrived on that pressure last summer when we had to try and retain the (trainers') title at Cartmel. That brought its own pressure and you can draw on things like that this year going into the National, where you know that you can't leave any stone unturned and you have to make sure you do everything spot-on, because everyone else is.”

Highland Lodge is the second horse Moffatt has trained for the Grand National, so he does have experience in making sure he mounts make it to post.

Chief Dan George was last of 17 finishers in the big race in 2011, but he was more of a Cheltenham horse – winning there at the 2010 Festival – while Highland Lodge is made for the big fences in the National.

His second place in December's Becher followed victory in the same race last year.

Moffatt hopes the South Cumbrian public will get behind his horse for the big day, with hopes he can do them proud.

“Chief Dan George was a very talented horse, but he came in at the back end of his career, where his rating was high enough and it was worth having a stab at the race,” he said. “While I always thought he would jump round, he didn't really have the scope to have a cut at those fences, whereas Highland Lodge is a different kettle of fish.

“It brings out the best in him. It's very exciting – to have a horse from South Cumbria going for the National, we hopes everyone gets behind him and supports us.”