Gary Carroll closed the gap on Ben Curtis at the top of the apprentice title race to just a single winner by guiding Invincible Ash (13-2) to victory in the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk.

The five-year-old was recording his third course victory and his fourth success of the campaign as he got the better of David Barron's British raider Hitchens by three-quarters of a length.

Winning trainer Mick Halford said: "She is a terrific servant, is amazingly consistent and has had a wonderful season.

"She loves the fast ground in the summer and we gave her a break after that. We'll consider going to Dubai as she will love the sun on her back and the ground. Gary gave her a great ride."

Curtis still holds sway in the race to champion apprentice on 35 winners, with Carroll now on 34 and Joseph O'Brien on 33.

Kevin Prendergast's Alsalwa made it third time lucky at the all-weather track by landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race.

Declan McDonogh's mount had finished second here for the last two weeks and went one better by edging out Anam Chara by a head.

McDonogh said of the 6-1 shot: "She's a right mare. She loved the surface and I think she could take a Listed race at Dundalk."

The Ger Lyons-trained The Reaper finally opened his account Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

The 7-4 chance had been placed on four of his first eight starts but he made no mistake this time under Keagan Latham as he stretched four and a half lengths clear of Catalpa Sail

"He did it well. He was the highest rated in the race and has been running up to his form," said Lyons.

"He went right away from them all and will be a lovely three-year-old. We'll see how he comes out of the race. We might go again here."< Eternal Youth (9-1) secured the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Nursery under Leigh Roche, while 12-1 shot Iron Major was given a fantastic ride by Johnny Murtagh in the [email protected] Handicap.