Always Right edged out Garleton to win the Totepool Premier Chase at Kelso

Ballabriggs: Did his Grand National claims no harm

Always Right denied Garleton in a photo-finish to the Totepool Premier Chase as the principals failed to figure.

Favourite Harry Topper blundered and unseated Timmy Murphy at the ninth fence, while the well-fancied Bold Sir Brian was never travelling with much fluency and was ultimately pulled up before four out.

Former Grand National hero Ballabriggs was one of four horses who approached the final fence with little more than a length separating them.

But although he ran a most creditable trial for his return to Aintree and the world's most famous jumps race next month, the sticky going ultimately took its toll and he was well held in the closing stages as the first two pulled clear.

Garleton, who had taken the field along from the start, did his best to hold off the challenge of Always Right, but ultimately went down by a head at the line.

"He hasn't got a lot of miles on the clock as he started as a point-to-pointer, we'll look at maybe running him in the Scottish National - he's been third in it before," said trainer John Wade. "We'll have a look through the programme and see if there is anything else for him beforehand."

Always Right also ran in the Grand National last year, but unseated his rider at The Chair, and is not entered in this year's contest.

Murphy was able to walk away from his fall, but required first-aid treatment at the course and missed the ride aboard Scimon Templar in the following contest. Jason Maguire deputised.