Scottish National winner to test water at Aintree Connections of Merigo will have their fingers crossed the chestnut takes to Aintree's unique obstacles in the totesport.com Becher Chase on Sunday. Merigo is already a winner of the 2009 Eider Chase and the 2010 Scottish National and the main aim now is the John Smith's Grand National. However, trainer Andrew Parker believes there is no point pursuing that dream if the nine-year-old gelding does not take to the fences. "This is just a stepping stone. Hopefully he'll take to the fences and if he does, and we can get him into the weights for the Grand National, then that's what we want to do," said the Lockerbie handler. "If for some reason he doesn't take to the fences it's early enough in the season to find out and we can go back to Plan B, which would be the Scottish National. "He schooled over a National-style spruce fence here on Tuesday and he was outstanding. "I don't see any reason why he shouldn't take to the fences, but you never know. A lot of people have thought certain horses would take to them and have bottled it on the day. "I think when he gets pointed at a fence on Sunday he'll give Timmy (Murphy) a great spin." Merigo was well beaten on his first run of the campaign over hurdles at Kelso earlier this month, but that did not surprise his trainer. "He's not your traditional French horse, he needs some getting fit," Parker added. "No matter how many miles you do at home with him he needs a couple of runs to get himself right."
