Favourite Ambassadorial lost his unbeaten record when only third as the Listed Avenue Inn, Dundalk Patton Stakes went to Ballydoyle's War Secretary in the hands of Seamie Heffernan.

Both of these had course and distance winning form to their names, and Heffernan elected to put the pace to the seven furlong affair on his mount, a 5/2 second market choice.

Six to four shot Ambassadorial was waited with by Shane Foley, and it opened up in the straight as the jockeys asked for more.

Well-supported 8/1 chance Noivado looked like he might go by War Secretary from over a furlong out. He edged right close home and eventually lost out by a neck.

Ambassadorial kept at it but he never really looked likely to get on terms and he ended up two lengths back in third.

"He's been working nicely and we were hoping he would win," said Heffernan.

"Sure like all of them we are hoping he will improve plenty. He's a likeable sort."

The other Aidan O'Brien runner, Intelligence Cross finished fourth.

(GC & EM)