Layfayette bounced back to his best form in the Group 3 Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes for Noel Meade and Colin Keane at the Curragh on Sunday.

The six-year-old was held up, as his is wont, in the 10-furlong affair and alongside his stablemate Helvic Dream, he gradually got himself into contention down the outside of runners in the straight.

Unless, who had set the gallop in front, was game with the lead, but after seeing off her first challenger Knight To King, the finishing effort of the Patricia Hunt-owned six-year-old was too good for her, with Helvic Dream running encouragingly in third.

Lafayette had been well held on both of his previous two runs but had won a listed contest in similar fashion at Limerick in June and Meade was keen to excuse his latest effort at Naas. Bought for €54,000 at a breeze-up sale, the son of French Navy has been a fine servant for Tu Va Stables and unsurprisingly is a real yard favourite. This was his ninth win and he looks as good as ever.

“I’m delighted with that, and delighted to see the other horse run so well,” Meade said. “I was disappointed with him (Layfayette) at Naas but he had to get a little bit of treatment on his back and when we did that, we had to give him a bit of time.

“Chris Hayes rode him and he said he turned in going as well as anything and he just blew up. I know it was a mile and a half and that just stretches him but I did think maybe these older horses just take a bit of work. He was just a bit stuffy but we made sure he wasn’t today.

“I thought Colin looked to be travelling well and that when he’d go for him, that he’d pick up well. He loves this place. He loves a long straight, it’s the same with Naas.

“He is a real yard favourite. Where would you find a horse like him for reasonable or sensible money? The likes of Aidan and that have a stream coming along all the time but if you’re buying into horses on the flat, you don’t come across horses like that too often.

“Paul (Hunt) would have been one of my big supporters and unfortunately he passed away. His family are getting a great kick out of the horse. It’s great tor his wife Pat, that she’s able to have this horse.”

On Helvic Dream, Meade added: “Gary (Carroll, rider) said he gave him a lovely feel. He said he moved very well, he was very happy with him. He thinks it might be worth going a mile and a half. We tried that before and it didn’t work but we might try it again now.”

The Paddy Power Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival could be on the cards for Layfayette next but that Group 3 contest is not available for Helvic Dream as a Group 1 winner.