Curtis hits back on Valbonne

Ben Curtis wasted no time closing the gap again the apprentice race as Valbonne claimed the first divsion of the fillies maiden at Dundalk.

The John Murphy-trained daughter of Refuse To Bend was produced with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong.

She stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half sucess over Maggie Neary

There was a bunch finish for the placings with the well-supported Amazing Beauty (7/4 to 1/1f) back in fourth under Joseph O'Brien.

Curtis now sits on 38 winners, one behind Gary Carroll with Joseph O'Brien on 35.