HORSE RACING:RUBY WALSH'S injury jinx has struck again with a crushed vertebrae ruling him out of the Galway Festival. Walsh is not expected to be back in action until September.

He picked up the injury at Killarney when riding Friendly Society for Michael Hourigan in the Malton Handicap Hurdle, when the gelding fell at the first hurdle.

Walsh initially walked back into the weighing room, but having had the injury checked out it is worse than first feared.

“Ruby was very sore immediately after his fall and went to get his neck looked at in Cork University Hospital,” said his sister and agent, Jennifer Walsh yesterday.

“He has crushed a vertebrae in his neck and has also torn a ligament off a vertebrae. He will be out of action until Listowel Festival time (September) and is currently wearing a collar-support around his neck.”

Elsewhere, Colm O’Donoghue believes Treasure Beach can continue to improve throughout the season as he looks to follow up his Irish Derby win in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp tonight.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt almost pulled off a 25 to 1 surprise in the Derby at Epsom when just denied by Pour Moi, but proved that was no fluke by going one better at the Curragh.

Stablemate Seville, an Epsom disappointment, looked the likely winner before tiring close home, and the pair clash again.

The eagerly-awaited contest contains a third O’Brien runner in Marksmanship and the French Derby winner Reliable Man.

“Obviously it was a massive run at Epsom – he ran a brilliant race – and it was great to see him come out and frank the form at the Curragh,” said jockey O’Donoghue.

“He’s come out of the Irish Derby really well so I’m looking forward to tomorrow night. Some horses take a while to recover after Epsom, but it just shows how solid and tough he is and how genuine and reliable he is.

“He’s got a pedigree that suggests that he should keep on improving and he’s much better at three than he was at two, so hopefully he improves with age. The ground won’t worry him.”

Séamus Heffernan rode Seville at the Curragh and keeps the partnership intact in France.

“I was very happy with his run at the Curragh. I took it (the running) up, but he just got a little bit tired close home,” said Heffernan, fresh from his win in the Eclipse on So You Think.

“He’s come out of his race well and he’s ready to run in another Group One and I’m delighted to keep the ride.

“Cut in the ground won’t be a worry, he genuinely goes on all sorts of ground.”