The intriguing duel between champion apprentice contenders Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis gathered apace at Sligo, with both riders enjoying success.

One winner in arrears before racing began, Carroll drew level when his mount Going Gaga defied the burden of top weight in the www.countysligoraces.com Nursery Handicap.

On the heels of the leaders from the off, Michael Mulvany's 8-1 chance kicked on early in the straight and dug deep to repel the challenge of Ceist Nua

Curtis immediately struck back when Raise The Rafters made all to cause a 33-1 upset in the Join The Sligo Race Supporters Club In 2011 Maiden.

Sent straight to the front on his Flat race debut, Tom Hogan's charge kept pulling out more at the head of affairs and had four and a half lengths to spare over Faoileanda at the line.

But Carroll then levelled matters once again with his win on Walter De La Mare in the Foley's Bar & Off Licence Sligo Handicap.

The pair had combined successfully over course and distance last month and followed up with a 10-1 triumph, edging out Golden Nugget by a neck.< Gentleman Duke (9-2) made it fourth time lucky with a seven-length score under Fran Berry in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, while the Patrick Carey-trained Driveheron (8-1) narrowly denied Aliwiyya a comeback success in the Race Sponsorship At Sligo In 2011 Handicap.

Punters latched onto the eye-catching combination of Ruby Walsh riding Prince Erik for Dermot Weld in the Yeats Beginners Chase and, sent off 10-11 favourite, the occasionally quirky grey duly obliged with a comfortable success over Mulberry Boy < Kylebeg Krystle stayed on best of all to make a winning start over birch in the Strandhill Mares Beginners Chase, while By The Hour defied a 177-day layoff when emerging on top in the Cleveragh Road Handicap Chase.