News that Vieux Lion Rouge has died at the age of 17 has brought a wave of sadness across the jump racing world.
For many Grand National followers he was not just another staying chaser. He was one of the horses who seemed to belong to Aintree.
The David Pipe-trained runner never managed to win the Grand National itself despite five appearances, yet he became one of the most recognisable horses associated with the famous fences.
His career around the unique course left behind a remarkable statistic that says much about his courage and reliability.
Across his races at Aintree, Vieux Lion Rouge successfully jumped 254 Grand National fences, more than any horse in the history of the race.
For those who follow the National closely, that number is extraordinary. It reflects not just durability, but also the willingness of a horse to return again and again to one of the most demanding courses in jump racing.
A Horse Who Loved the Aintree Test
The Grand National fences are unlike anything else in the sport. Even experienced chasers can find them difficult to handle. The spruce tops, the long distances between obstacles and the stamina required over the extended trip all combine to create a unique test.
Some horses clearly enjoy it.
Vieux Lion Rouge was one of them.
From the moment he first tackled the Aintree fences, he showed an ease and enthusiasm that made him stand out. His jumping was usually neat and measured, allowing him to travel comfortably through races that have undone many more highly rated rivals.
That ability meant he became a regular visitor to Aintree, particularly in races run over the National course.
For several seasons, whenever the Grand National meeting or the winter Becher Chase came around, racing fans almost expected to see him lining up again.
Five Runs in the Grand National
His best performance came in 2017, when he ran a determined race to finish sixth. The year before he had also given a strong account of himself, finishing seventh in the 2016 Grand National.
While he never quite managed to get close enough to the leaders to challenge for victory, he regularly showed that he belonged in the race.
Those efforts helped cement his reputation as a horse that could be trusted to handle the course year after year.
Becher Chase Success
Although the Grand National itself eluded him, Vieux Lion Rouge did enjoy notable success over the same fences in another race that specialists often target.
The Becher Chase, staged each December over the National course, proved to be a perfect fit for him.
He won the race twice (2016, 2020), confirming his ability to cope with the unique obstacles and the stamina test that comes with them.
Those victories made him one of the most familiar and respected horses to appear over the Aintree fences during the late 2010s.
A Long Partnership with David Pipe
Vieux Lion Rouge spent the whole of his racing career in the care of David Pipe, whose yard has produced numerous high-class staying chasers over the years.
He carried the colours of Professor Caroline Tisdall, who owned the horse with John Gent, and remained a regular runner in major staying handicaps throughout his career.
Eventually he retired from racing in 2022, bringing to an end a career that had seen him tackle the toughest fences in the sport more often than any other horse.
A Happy and Active Retirement
Retirement did not mean a quiet life in a field for Vieux Lion Rouge.
He spent his later years in the countryside of Devon, where he remained active and clearly enjoyed the freedom of life away from the racecourse. Living near Dartmoor, he had regular outings across the moorland and even trips to the sandy beaches of the West Country.
Before settling there he had also spent time on Exmoor, joining hunting days and remaining active long after his racing career had finished.
Those who cared for him often spoke about how much he seemed to enjoy these adventures, proving that many former racehorses thrive when they continue to have purpose and activity.
Always Happy to See Aintree Again
Even after retirement, Vieux Lion Rouge never completely left the stage where he had become so well known.
He returned to Aintree on several occasions to parade during Grand National meetings, giving fans the chance to see one of the course’s most recognisable modern runners once more.
Those who travelled with him often remarked that he seemed to brighten the moment he stepped off the lorry at the racecourse.
It was as if he knew exactly where he was.
The horse had been expected to return again this year for Grand National day.
A Grand National Character
The Grand National has always been about more than just the winner. The race builds stories around horses that return year after year, capturing the imagination of racing fans.
Vieux Lion Rouge was one of those horses.
He may never have lifted the famous trophy, but his repeated visits to the race and his remarkable record over the fences made him part of the fabric of modern Aintree history.
And when this year’s runners line up at Aintree, many racing fans will pause for a moment to remember a horse who seemed to enjoy jumping those fences as much as any that came before him.
