PUNTERS need all the assistance they can get during the marathon Galway Festival which faced the starter on Monday. Despite the ultra-competitive nature of most of the races, contested in the main by average performers, you can't help but have a few bets.

Asked for a tip during his appearance on 'Saturday Night With Miriam', Ruby Walsh was his usual direct self – straight to the point, there you have it.

A man of many words, he can put up a convincing argument, no matter what the topic. Wonder where he got that from?

Out injured since parting company with Celestial Halo at Aintree, Ruby proved an invaluable member of RTE's team covering the Punchestown Festival. He steered viewers in the direction of a few winners, and sitting alongside Tony O'Hehir in the commentary box, his reading of the action as it unfolded proved prophetic on occasion.

Still on the sidelines for another few weeks, his thoughts on the sport out west are worth listening to.

Sitting on the couch alongside his good friend AP McCoy last Saturday night, Ruby was succinct in his analysis of the Plate. 'It's a toss up between Majestic Concorde and Themoonandsixpence,' he imparted.

A toss-up in a field of 22, are you sure, Ruby? These two deserve a close look ahead of Wednesday's showpiece.

Majestic Concorde is the current favourite. Nobody else but his trainer Dermot Weld could devise a preparation for a 2m 6f chase with a last-time-out run in the Chester Cup over two months ago.

Prior to that Ruby was up for a win in a Sligo chase when the pair beat Saddlers Native by seven lengths on 8th October.

Majestic Concorde, owned by Dr Ronan Lambe and therefore wearing the same colours carried to victory by Rite Of Passage in the Ascot Gold Cup, had two other runs on the Flat in Curragh handicaps before the Sligo success.

Yes, it's fair to say Mr Weld has laid this one out.

Themoonandsixpence is under the care of Willie Mullins. A sevenyear-old, like the market leader, he had Walsh on board for a hat-trick of wins, namely two Kilbeggan hurdles and a Wexford beginners' chase, during last July and August.

His next appearance wasn't until 24th April when an eight-length runner-up to Cuan Na Grai in a novices' chase at Punchestown.

Cuan Na Grai, winner of the 2006 Galway Hurdle for Paul Nolan, is expected to re-oppose.

Thriller

ON a night when many of the leading contenders for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby were in action, Makeshift ran out a thrilling winner of the Townview Foods Champion Stakes final.

He was smartly away from trap three ahead of Mesedo Blue and Tyrur Big Mike, and that's how they turned into the back straight.

Makeshift was challenged strongly by Tyrur Big Mike – the pair of them returned the 5/2 joint-favourites – between the last two bends, but the latter ran very wide, allowing Dolores Ruth's charge to take a nice lead into the Shelbourne Park straight.

Tyrur closed once more but failed by a neck to catch Makeshift who clocked 29.90 for the 550 yards.

- Francis CARROLL