Racing:Merigo ran his rivals into the ground to land a local success in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr. Trained by Andrew Parker at Lockerbie, the nine-year-old was always prominent and a fantastic round of jumping saw him coast home a nine-length winner in the hands of Timmy Murphy.
Merigo was left towards the head of affairs after the pace-setting According To John crashed out at the fourth fence, taking a couple of others, including That's Rhythm, with him.
Killyglen was left at the head of affairs, but Murphy was tracking his every move aboard the 18-1 shot and pushed to the front some way out.
Razor Royale went along with him, but Merigo was travelling by far the strongest down the back and the result barely looked in doubt on the turn for home.
Gone To Lunch, the 15-2 favourite, tried his best to make up the ground but Merigo had already flown and Jeremy Scott's charge had to settle for the runner-up spot for a second successive year.
No Panic stayed on for third, with Razor Royale sneaking into the places in fourth.
Merigo is owned by Ray Green, father-in-law of the winning jockey. Murphy said: "He was absolutely brilliant.
"Andrew has done a fantastic job with him as he's had his little setbacks.
"He jumped fantastically, stayed and travelled well."
"I'd like to congratulate Ray as this race is very close to his heart.
"I'm delighted for him - he puts so much into racing."
Green added: "This is fantastic and has been the dream ever since I got into racing - the Scottish National was top of the list.
"I'm thrilled for Timmy - he deserves this."
Parker had his plans for Merigo thrown into disarray during the big freeze at the start of the year but was pleased to see fortune finally favouring his horse.
He said: "We have had a frustrating winter not being able to run the horse in the Welsh National or the Eider, but he has been in great form all through and we just wanted to get him on the course.
"Ray has always been a great supporter of the stable and I couldn't be any more pleased for him, while Timmy knows the horse very well and he knew when to go."
Despite having to settle for second place again, Gone To Lunch's trainer Jeremy Scott was delighted to see his horse return to form after an indifferent campaign this term.
He said: "He has run a fantastic race and it is nice to see him back to something like his best.
"This time he was only about six or seven lengths down turning into the straight, while last season he was 20 lengths adrift.
"If anything, he just might have been a bit short of work but he was very well in himself.
"We may be banging our head against a brick wall but we will come back again and hopefully one day he will win."