Champion elect Pat Smullen moved on to 94 for the season when giving Hawa Bali a strong ride to claim the 1m2f handicap at Dundalk.
The Paul Deegan-trained gelding was produced to lead a furlong-and-a-half from home.
He was strongly pressed by King Of Aran inside the final furlong but just pulled out enough to record a head success.
Ben Curtis, who partnered King Of Aran, just missed out on a victory which would have put him top of the apprentice table.
