Merroir bidding for repeat victory at Ballinrobe This week has been a very successful one for Joseph O'Brien with lots of winners on the domestic front and, of course, State Of Rest's victory in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Merroir, owned by Maxwell Morris, was a progressive performer for O'Brien last year after joining him from Ray Cody's yard and one of her three handicap wins came at Ballinrobe a year ago. The homebred daughter of Born To Sea, who was Listed-placed at Galway on her penultimate start in September, returns to the Mayo venue on Monday evening to try and win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Handicap for a second time. In what will be her first start for over eight months, the five-year-old will have to concede 18lbs to likely dangers Secret Sea and Willesee in a small field of four. Dylan Browne McMonagle, on board for all of the mare's wins, will be in the saddle once again. Speaking at Down Royal on Saturday where he saddled both Spartan Army and the impressive Onameridance to win for O'Brien, assistant trainer Brendan Powell said of Merroir: "She's a stout filly, she stays and it would be great for her owners who are breeders. "She seems in great old form at home. "I'm sure Joseph will be looking for a bit of black-type again with her this season. "She's a tough, hardy filly and she would appreciate a drop of rain as well, but hopefully the ground (good, good to yielding in places as of Sunday) will be okay for her." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
