Merigo narrowly won the Coral Scottish Grand National for the second time with a brave display in the marathon handicap chase at Ayr.
Winner in 2010 and second 12 months ago, the 11-year-old chased Auroras Encore down the straight and finished a head in front after a thrilling duel over the last three fences. King Fontaine was 15 lengths away in third, with Ballyfitz fourth.
The 15-2 winner was ridden by weighing-room veteran Timmy Murphy for his father-in-law owner Raymond Anderson Green, and is trained by Lockerbie-based Andrew Parker.
Murphy said: "He's a superstar. Andrew knows him better than anybody and I think he just comes to himself at this time of year.
"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 it. He's a great horse to own and ride."
Parker added: "He's a horse that takes some getting fit - look at the size of him - and he still looks unfit now, but that's him. 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. For a horse who's never won over a mark higher than 134, to win 350 grand we've done well with him."
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 great ride by Timmy."
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