Champion apprentice aspirant Tom Madden won the opener, and it was the turn of another with hopes of landing that title, Killian Leonard, that took race two at Dundalk, the Bar One Racing Nursery Handicap on Emily Grace (16/1).

Riding this one for Michael Grassick, Leonard was involved in a tight tussle on the Elzaam filly, as just a neck and two heads split the first four home. Compton's Finale (11s into 9s) finished second, National Guard (11/4 into 2/1 favourite) was third, and Rockview Spirt fourth.

Shane Crosse (23 winners) rode Rockview Spirit and he remains the favourite to finish at the head of the apprentice tree for 2018.

"She had a good run in Naas when she was just battled out of it in the last furlong," said Leonard (moving on to the 21-winner mark).

"She had bits and pieces of form and in fairness the form was there.

"I knew she'd be tough and hard to get by if I could go forward and sit.

"I was able to sit fourth as they were going a good gallop and she battled really hard for me in the last furlong.

"We're moving closer every week and hopefully I can just make it a little bit exciting for Shane (Crosse) going into the last week."

(GC & EM)