Racing: Merigo hits Scottish National trail at Kelso

Published on 10/11/2012 01:37

MERIGO is the star turn at Kelso today as the dual Scottish Grand National hero makes his seasonal return in under top-weight of 11st 12lb in the Flannigan Skip Hire Handicap Chase.

The 11-year-old, owned by Ray Green and trained at Ecclefechan by Andrew Parker, won the Ayr marathon in April and two years ago and was a gallant runner-up in 2011.

Parker said: “He is as forward as I have ever had him at this time of year but, as always, it will take him time to get into his stride. His mark has dropped a couple of pounds to 140 so he just creeps nicely into the Kelso race. He’s ready to run and again his whole season will be geared towards Ayr in the spring.”

Merigo will face a maximum of seven rivals, including three-time course winner Knockara Beau.

Green was in the winners’ enclosure at Musselburgh yesterday as Locked Inthepocket reverted to fences in style in the Buy Your 2013 Annual Members Badge Today Handicap Chase. The East Lothian-based owner said: “He had a few injury problems last season and it was late before he appeared but he won a couple of races over hurdles in the spring. His hurdling mark has gone up as a result and we were forced to go back chasing with him. He’s a real fun horse.”

Peter Niven’s Clever Cookie was a well-backed winner on his debut in the Scottish Racing Best Bet Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race to complete a double for Wilson Renwick, who had earlier struck on Nine Stories.

“He’s been working well at home and is the last – and by far the best – foal out of my mother’s mare Mystic Memory,” Niven said. “She won three on the Flat and eight over hurdles, including six with me on board.”

Donald McCain is keen to keep things low-key for the time being with Kie following his most impressive chasing debut. The four-year-old struck twice and also ran some decent races in defeat during his juvenile year over hurdles and his trainer has decided to send him straight over the larger obstacles this term, where he gets a handy age allowance. Supporters of the 6-5 favourite had an early scare in the Musselburgh Interactive Beginners’ Chase as Kie brushed through the first fence, but his jumping warmed up considerably as the contest wore on.

He was clear of his rivals with a circuit to go and he never looked back, producing some fine leaps down the back straight and continuing in the same vein once straightened up for home. He winged the final fence on his way to an 11-length win over market rival Rigidity under Jason Maguire. “That was grand. He made that mistake at the first but he probably needed that as he’s been a bit bold and it doesn’t do them any harm if they stand up,” said McCain. “He’s only four but he’s from a good jumping family and his way of racing suits running in two-mile chases. He could be a nice prospect, but we’ll just take things steady.”

McCain and Maguire went on to complete doubles in the following R&M Mike Finnie 25th Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle as 9-2 shot Smadynium beat the consistent Maybe I Wont by a length and three-quarters. “He did it well and we’ve been looking for a bit of better ground with him,” said the trainer. “He’s a genuine horse and he’ll get a bit further and there will be more races to be won with him.”

Newcastle-based handler Michael Smith believes there is more to come from Imperial Vic (9-4) after he overcame obvious signs of inexperience to take top honours in the Be One Step Ahead Maiden Hurdle. Ridden positively by Danny Cook, the former point-to-pointer drew clear from the home turn and had plenty in reserve to beat the favourite, Dannanceys Hill.

SELECTIONS:

Kelso

12.25 Grouse Lodge

1.00 Twice Lucky

1.30 Scotswell

2.05 Relax

2.40 Stagecoach Pearl

3.15 Castlelawn

3.50 Pete

Doncaster

11.50 Dundrum Dancer

12.20 Clumber Place

12.50 Flashlight

1.25 Run Fat Lass Run

2.00 Surprise Moment

2.35 Nicholascopernicus

3.10 Jack Dexter

3.45 Myboyalfie

Sandown

12.45 Lamps

1.20 Overturn

1.50 Dollar Bill

2.25 Rob Conti

3.00 Kartanian

3.35 Graduation Night

4.05 Your Tepee 
 Or Mine (nap)

Wincanton

12.35 Mr Mole

1.10 Roll The Dice

1.40 Coronea Lilly

2.15 King Of The Night

2.50 Baby Mix

3.25 Michel Le Bon

4.00 The Stout Italian

Saturday Yankee

Your Tepee Or Mine 4:05 Sandown

Michel Le Bon

3.25 Wincanton

Run Fat Lass Run 1.25 Doncaster

Pete

3:50 Kelso

Ffos Las

12.55 At Fishers Cross

1.25 Boyfromnowhere

2.00 Anay Turge

2.30 Oscar Davy

3.05 Weekend Millionair

3.40 Lady Karinga

4.10 Castle Beach

Market Rasen

1.10 Dont Take Me Alive

1.40 Valleyofmilan

2.15 My Brother Sylvest (nap)

2.45 I’m The Decider

3.20 Ban Uisce

3.50 Basil Fawlty

Double

My Brother Sylvest 2:15 M Rasen

Oscar Davy

2:30 Ffos Las