Khafaaq availed of a drop into 45-70 company to regain a winning thread at Galway.

Andrew Slattery sent the top weight into an early lead and the pair had most of their rivals off the bridle sweeping for home. Lottieloveheart chased Khafaaq into the straight and looked dangerous inside the final furlong.

She really came at Khafaaq in the final 100 yards, but the leader clung on by a neck to reward his backers at 16/5 at the end of an extended seven furlongs.

Lottieloveheart, in the first-time visor, had to settle for second at 12/1. The front pair pulled three and a quarter lengths clear of Lady Savanah the 11/4 favourite.

Trainer Andrew Slattery said: "That was badly needed.

“He probably wasn’t liking the ground that heavy but we saw it as a winnable race.

“He didn’t give his running at Punchestown so we brought him back quick.

“He has three won now — not bad for a horse that cost five grand.”

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy