Jockey Tom Scudamore has paid tribute to Aintree stalwart Vieux Lion Rouge, who has been retired.
Trainer David Pipe has decided to call time on the 13-year-old's career, which has spanned 10 years, after he was pulled up in the Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock Park last week on his 41st career start.
Vieux Lion Rouge was a regular over the big fences at Aintree Racecourse where he won the Becher Chase twice in six attempts, the first in 2016 under Scudamore.
He also made five starts in the Grand National with a best-placed sixth in 2017 and in his 11 starts over the famous obstacles he jumped more of them – 261 – than any other horse in history.
Vieux Lion Rouge also won the Grand National Trial at Haydock in February 2017 and also ran four times at the Cheltenham Festival.
Everton FC fan Scudamore, who rode Vieux Lion Rouge in nine of his 11 runs over the National fences, told Sky Sports Racing: "He's been a fantastic servant to the yard, to Caroline (Tisdall), to John (Gent, owners) and David (Pipe) and myself.
"He gave us so many happy days and it was extraordinary to think that the big gangly three-year-old I won a bumper on over a mile and a half at Newbury went on to achieve what he did.
"The funny thing with him was that he wasn't a natural jumper. Over hurdles he was a bit awkward and over fences to begin with you wouldn't have put him down as a National horse.
"He actually ran in the National as a novice the first time. I remember schooling him over the National fences and he was just awesome – but I was dreading it a little bit if I'm honest as he wasn't a natural but they made a man of him and he never looked back – he was such an intelligent horse.
"Caroline is a great supporter of National Hunt racing and the Grand National so for Vieux to come along so early was great for her and John.
"I think he holds the record for most Grand National fences jumped and I won more races (11) on him than any other horse so he holds a special place in my heart."
Vieux Lion Rouge won 13 of his 41 starts and earned £344,777 in prize-money in a career that began with victory in a bumper at Ffos Las on December 17 2012.
