JAMES Moffatt has confirmed Highland Lodge has been retired after his Aintree swansong in the Topham Chase last Friday.

The Cartmel trainer had said ahead of the race it was likely to be the last for the 13-year-old, who established a reputation a something of a course specialist at the Merseyside venue thanks to his performances in the Becher Chase.

Highland Lodge won the Becher in 2015, and followed that up with being placed in both the 2016 and 2017 editions before falling in last year's renewal.

Moffatt had been keen to give him one last run-out at Aintree though and is now set to retire at Pit Farm Stables along with some of the yard's other famous inmates.

"The old horse has a big following – you can see that on social media – and I can assure them he is 100 per cent sound," Moffatt told the Racing Post.

"But we felt now was the right time to call it a day. He’ll have a wonderful retirement here in Cartmel, with other old boys like Chief Dan George, Brown Eyes Blue and True North – and he thoroughly deserves it."

Highland Lodge retires with five wins from 27 races under rules, along with six place finishes and total prize-money of £172,030.

He was a Grand National runner for Moffatt in 2017 as well, with this year's entry in the Topham coming after he just missed out on a place in the world-famous steeplechase.