Two progressive fillies fought out the finish of the M.D O'Shea & Sons Apprentice Handicap for three-year-olds with the John O'Donoghue-trained Abbey Actress (4/1) getting up close home under James Ryan.

A promising third on handicap debut at the Galway festival, the daughter of Make Believe, owned in partnership by her breeder John O'Connor, Paul Nolan and Nora O'Donoghue, was stepping up in trip by three furlongs and needed every yard of it to thwart recent Listowel winner Beyond Your Dreams by a neck.

"John filled me with confidence beforehand as she had a very good run in Galway and loved the ground," said Ryan.

"I followed Joseph's horse (O'Brien, Beyond Your Dreams) and wanted to have one go at her and in fairness she battled all the way to the line.

"That is the right trip and, more importantly, that's her ground and there is more improvement to come."

Ryan is now on 27 winners and level with Adam Caffrey in the race to be champion apprentice with Wayne Hassett, who rode runner-up Beyond Your Dreams, just one behind the pair.

He added: "It is tight between me, Adam and Wayne so I'm sure there'll be a good battle to the end. It would be great to win it but it will be hard and either way, I've had a good season."

Quotes from Tom Weekes