There could hardly have been a more popular winner of the prestigious Coral Scottish Grand National than the Raymond Anderson-Green-owned Merigo, who came through with a tremendous late effort to deny the gallant Aurora’s Encore and win the great race for the second time in three years, writes Elliot Slater.

The 11-year-old has surely earned his place close to the top of the pantheon of great Scottish Grand National winners. Not only did he repeat his success of two years ago, but it should not be forgotten that the Andrew Parker-trained gelding only failed by three-quarters-of-a-length to score 12 months ago, when edged out in a desperate finish at the hands of Tim Vaughan’s classy Beshabar.

Clearly ideally suited to the extended four-mile trip, and the decent ground that invariably accompanies the gruelling Scottish National, connections had been bullish about the prospects of the out-and-out stayer winning again, after he reportedly put up his best ever training gallop just two weeks prior to the main event.

Ridden by Timmy Murphy, the man who was on board Merigo in both previous runs in the race of the hugely popular son of Pistolet Bleu, the 15/2 gambit in online betting was never far from the pace. However, he came under maximum pressure between the final two fences, when it appeared that the Sue Smith-trained Aurora’s Encore might be getting away from him.

Over a length down at the final fence, Merigo was galvanised by Murphy, and responded in the gamest possible fashion, forging through on the inside rail to pop his head in front in the last couple of strides to get up by a head. The pair pulled clear of King Fontaine, who ran a fine race some 15-lengths back in third.

Returning to a rapturous reception, the possibility of the grand stayer coming back to attempt an unprecedented third win in the race in 2013 has not yet been ruled out.