Merigo ends 28-year wait for home win in Scottish Grand National

IT WAS the day that long-held dreams came true. For the first time in 28 years, a Scottish-trained horse won the £200,000 Coral Scottish Grand National, and it was very much a family affair for Scotland's first family of racing.

Perennial leading Scottish owner Raymond Anderson Green's familiar colours of green with a yellow sash were carried to victory in the four-mile marathon aboard Merigo, trained at Lockerbie by Andrew Parker, son of the late Colin who trained Anderson Green's great 1997 Cheltenham Festival winner Sparky Gayle and who was also responsible for the owner's first winner over jumps, Brandy Hambro at Carlisle back in 1986.

The winning jockey was Timmy Murphy, who is married to Raymond and Anita Anderson Green's daughter, Verity. Murphy won the Aintree Grand National two years ago on Comply or Die, and said yesterday's victory was "number two" only to that momentous triumph.

A huge crowd enjoyed good weather and gave the traditional starting roar when the tapes went up.

Merigo was always up in the van as Killyglen and Razor Royale cut out the running.

Heading up the home straight with a full circuit to go, Murphy sent Merigo into the lead and he proceeded to jump round faultlessly and take a huge lead in the final straight. Only the 15-2 favourite, Gone To Lunch, second in the race last year, came anywhere near to catching Merigo, but the lead was too great and the 18-1 chance won by nine lengths.

Gone To Lunch was second again, with 40-1 shot No Panic staying on for third, while Razor Royale battled to beat Dom d'Orgeval by a nose for fourth at 20-1.

Last year ago Anderson Green pulled out Merigo because the ground was too quick. His judgment was proved correct yesterday on ground with the necessary give that allowed long-overdue history to be made.