The apprentice title race has provided great drama all season but the most exciting chapter was left for the very final race of the season as Gary Carroll on Dark Prospect was denied the championship outright in the final strides by the Wayne Lordan-ridden Denny Crane

Carroll was left on the 39 winner mark for the year, the same total as both Ben Curtis and Joseph O'Brien, to produce the first ever three-way tie for the apprentice crown.

Denny Crane looked to have little hope when short of room over a furlong out. However he really picked up when eventually switched right into the open, and just got up to score by a head, with Moyenne Corniche a neck back in third.

Moyenne Corniche was subsequently disqualified as Fran Berry failing to draw the correct weight.

“He's a proper horse and getting into trouble seems to suit him. We've had a great year here at Dundalk with 14 winners, and this horse has supplied three of those wins,” said winning trainer Eddie Lynam.