Merigo, horse with ‘heart of a lion’, regains Scottish crown

Trained by Lockerbie-based Andrew Parker, Merigo became the first horse for 27 years to win the showpiece race twice with a courageous effort.

Successful in 2010, he had to settle for second spot behind Beshabar 12 months ago but was brought back in the peak of form for another try.

Merigo answered weighing-room veteran Timmy Murphy’s every call to hold Auroras Encore in a thrilling duel over the last three fences in the straight, gaining the day by a head.

The 15-2 winner was ridden by Murphy for his father-in-law owner Raymond Anderson Green.

Parker said: “He loves Ayr, he loves the sun on his back. He’s just a different horse here than anywhere else.

“I thought we might be struggling, but one thing he has got is the heart of a lion. Timmy said he’s losing his pace but he’s got heart.”

Anderson Green said: “To win it once is dreamland, to come back and do it again – words can’t describe it. It means everything to me to win this race.

“It was a dream to come and win the race for the first win, a dream to finish second and unbelievable to come back and win the race for a second time.

“Timmy gave him a fantastic ride. The horse doesn’t like getting beaten. He is all guts and just grinds it out.

“We’ll have to get him lined up to try to win for a third time next year, but I think come 12 months’ time he may need a bit softer ground.”

Murphy added: “The choke was out for a long way and all credit to how deep he dug for me. I couldn’t go any quicker and his jumping was keeping him in it.”

There was a slight sting in the tail for Murphy as he was banned for four days (May 5 and 8-10) for using his whip above the permitted limit.

Alan King enjoyed a successful return home as he saddled Raya Star to land the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The Lanark-born trainer, who had a spell at the Cree Lodge stables across the road from the racecourse, took the opportunity to spend the weekend with his parents. It proved a worthwhile trip from his Barbury Castle base in Wiltshire.

It had been something of an afterthought, though, with Raya Star (15-2) having finished down the field in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“After Cheltenham we were going to put him away, but he was so well we thought we’d have another go with him,” said King. “It’s great to come back home and have another winner here. I think it was about five or six years ago since our last one and I think I was on a losing run here of about 30 runners.

“I was born in Lanark about an hour away but was brought up in Hamilton and I worked across the road from here at Cree Lodge for about a year when horses like Harry Hastings were around.”

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls may have been out of luck in the Coral Scottish Grand National, but came away with a 96-1 treble courtesy of Grandioso, Pacha Du Polder and Doeslessthanme.