David Pipe - Vieux Lion Rouge ticks a lot of the boxes for National

David Pipe believes Randox Health Grand National favourite Vieux Lion Rouge "ticks a lot of the boxes" ahead of the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree on Saturday. The eight-year-old is undefeated in two starts this season, having captured the Becher Chase on his return before landing the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his most recent start, andwill have a schooling session under Tom Scudamore this week. Pipe said: "He is in good form, a week is a long time with horses but he is in good form at present and we will try to keep it that way. "He had a break after his last race building him up to next weekend. Tom will be in to school him this week. Hopefully it will be OK and then away we go."Pipe's charge was seventh to Rule The World last year, and the trainer added:"I think he has probably made himself, in that he is a boy that has just turned into a man really. For a French horse, he is quite a late maturer. "He seems to jump the National fences well. With luck in running he ticks a lot of the boxes and hopefully he will run a big race." Pipe is set for a big week after pointing Moon Racer towards the Grade One Crabbie's Top Novices' Hurdle on Friday. The Nicholashayne handler is to return the eight-year-old back to novice company after pulling up in the Champion Hurdle.Prior to his failure to complete at the Cheltenham Festival, the former Champion Bumper winner had been two from two over hurdles.He said: "The plan is he will go for the two-mile novice on the Friday. Tom came in and schooled him in the week."