Joseph O'Brien closed to within one of joint leaders Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis in the apprentice title race when making virtually all aboard Empowering in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Sent off a generous 11/4 as all the money came for 4/6 favourite Narjawa O'Brien's 38th winner of the season is owned by his mother Anne Marie and trained by his father Aidan.

The daughter of Encosta De Lago asserted over a furlong out to score by two lengths, with the two principals pulling seven lengths clear of Oh What A Kitten in third.

“She progressed nicely from her first run to her second and has done the same again here. Joseph felt she wouldn't mind stepping up to a mile after the last day. Hopefully she will continue to progress next year," said the winning trainer afterwards.