Ben Curtis edged ahead in the race for the apprentice title when producing Gossamer Seed with a perfectly-timed run in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes at Cork.

The win on the John Murphy-trained 4-6 favourite, who looks a nice prospect, puts Curtis on the 34 winners for the campaign - one ahead of Gary Carroll and Joseph O'Brien.

Murphy's filly was confirming the promise she had shown when second on her debut, and the trainer said: "We've always thought a lot of her and she could be anything.

"We'll leave her off now until the spring and then step her up in distance."< Road To Victory went into a few notebooks following his last run at Navan and duly obliged with a 12-1 success in the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Handicap.

Billy Lee got the Charles O'Brien-trained four-year-old up in the closing stages to edge out Trotting Weasel by a head.

Gerry Abbot, representing O'Brien: "Billy said he'd win another one. He is set for the sales in Newmarket, though, so that's the road he'll be going."

The opening division of the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap was a notable one for young Danny Benson as he recorded a first career success on Kardyls Hope (9-1) for Jarlath Fahey.

Division two went to the Joe Murphy-trained White Daffodil (12-1) in the hands of Johnny Killahena, who was bagging his second winner.

Murphy doubled up as Galway Mile hero Ask Jack (9-2) dug deep to claim the www.corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes under Wayne Lordan.

Murphy said: "That was a great performance and we're delighted with the horse. He is genuine & ndash; very tough. He has options now & ndash; hurdles, Group company or the sales in Newmarket.

"We'll bring him to the sales anyway and see what he makes. He is a diamond so it'll be easy to polish him up."< Anam Chara (18-1) showed plenty of guts to fend off the late thrust of Daffodil Walk by a neck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.