Merroir heads No Thanks© Photo Healy Racing
The Easyfix Handicap saw outstanding apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle partner his 29th winner of the season as Merroir (6/1) enjoyed the ease in the ground to win by two and a half lengths.
The Born To Sea filly had already won twice this term in the hands of the Letterkenny teenager, at Gowran and Ballinrobe, and chased the leaders before coming with her challenge in the straight. She tackled the leader No Thanks at the furlong pole before quickly asserting and settling the issue. Nibiru (40/1) kept on well to take second, with the consistent No Thanks (3/1) a further two lengths away in third at the line.
The 11/4 favourite Mr Coldstone was unable to land a blow in seventh.
Brendan Powell, assistant to winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, said: “It was a very tough performance and the rain came in time (going was changed to yielding to soft after the race).
“Dylan said he was in a lovely position the whole way around. She is not very big and had a lot of weight on her back but by God she can dig.
"She'll go on better ground but has a high knee-action to her and loves that softer ground.
"The owners are breeders and will breed from her in the end but it would be great if she could get black-type somewhere. You'd have to give her a go and see, especially on softer ground as she'd tough it out more than those fillies that wouldn't go on the ground."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
