Dark Passion rattled home inside the final furlong to land the spoils in the auction maiden at Bellewstown. The Firm looked set to collect when hitting the front before the furlong pole but he couldn't hold the late charge of Johnny Murtagh's partner, who got up close home to score by half-a-length.

It was a double on the card for Ger Lyons and owner Sean Jones, who had earlier struck with Red Army Blues

The winner had attracted support in the ring, backed from 7/2 into 7/4 favourite. The other big mover was Dragon Khan (14/1 into 4/1) who finished seventh.

"He's a lovely colt and Johnny liked him from the minute he sat on him at Gowran first time out," said Lyons.

"He's still very green and went sky high first time across the road. Hopefully he might develop into a nice sort later on. He could go to Galway."