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.