All square in title race

Ben Curtis restored parity with Gary Carroll in the Irish apprentice jockeys’ championship after claiming a double at Dundalk today.

Victories on Home Secretary and Valbonne ensured Curtis moved on to 39 winners for the season – the same total as his rival.

Joseph O’Brien, currently on 35 winners, has ground to make up after failing to trouble the judge.

On a typically unpredictable afternoon, Carroll had seen a chink of daylight when Sampers claimed the Group Discounts At Dundalk Stadium Race.

The Mick Halford-trained filly (2-1 favourite) held off the close attentions of Calm Bay to take the six-furlong affair by a length and a quarter.

Halford said: “That’s a help to Gary. He works very hard and is a hell of a good rider. It would be nice if he could go on and win it.

“It’s a hard thing for a 3lb claimer to do, riding all year with just the 3lb, especially against a good crop.”

But Curtis was not to be denied, and fought back 30 minutes later when Valbonne (16-1) showed the way home in division one of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden.

Curtis later put the seal on a significant afternoon when Home Secretary (7-2 joint-favourite) hit the target in the concluding www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.