He is rated 13lb higher than 12 months ago when he humped 11st 11lb to victory, while he only carried 10st 12lb when successful two years ago.

“He’s a lovely horse but very small at only 15.2 hands. It’s amazing how he’s able to jump so well,” said trainer Dermot Weld, who has also won the Plate with Kiichi (1990) and General Idea (1993).

“He’s an outstanding and exceptional horse. He’s just a joy to train and we’ve got Ruby Walsh to ride him this year,” the trainer told At The Races.

“The horse is the same as he was last year so hopefully he’ll give a very big account of himself.

“In a race like the Galway Plate luck in running plays a big part. It’s like the Grand National – you want the best horse but need the luck.

“Anything is achievable with Ansar at Galway but luck in running will play a major part.”

Ansar has been a standing dish at the Galway Festival since 2000.

As well as two Galway Plates, he has also lifted the big hurdle race of the week – the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle – a maiden hurdle, a Flat race, another handicap hurdle and a novice chase.

His only defeat in eight starts at Galway came in his first attempt at winning the Plate three years ago when he was fifth to Nearly A Moose.

Ansar is 4-1 favourite with the sponsors, whose Irish spokesman Tony Kenny said: “When we first opened our book we installed Ansar as our 7-1 favourite for our race, but after constant support for the 10-year-old, he’s now 4-1.

“To be honest, we wouldn’t be too shocked if he went off 3-1 or shorter.”

The sole British raider is the Richard Fahey-trained Ball O Malt, who will be out to improve on his seventh place from 12 months ago.

“He’s fine and travelled well. We brought him over a week early this year as he just got wound up there last year,” said Fahey.

“He’s been at Ger Lyons’ for a week, he’s grand and we’re delighted with him, it just depends if he’s good enough.

“The owner was very keen to run him in the Plate. We got him ready early and decided to take him over early and not wait until the last minute.”

Paul Nolan saddles Dix Villez but he is keen to stress the seven-year-old would hold much stronger claims on faster ground.

With conditions at the track currently described as yielding after recent rain, Nolan is hoping for a dry spell in the lead-up to the race.

Dix Villez has won his last two starts on quick ground but has disappointed whenever he has encountered soft ground.

“He’s in good form but we are hoping the ground dries up,” said Nolan.

“He has won his last two starts but I really think he would have a better chance if the ground came up fast. If there was more rain between now and the race it would harm his chance.

“He won at the meeting last year so he will handle the track OK but I would have to stress that he would have a far better chance on quicker ground.

“He’s not the same horse on soft ground and it was riding on the slow side of yielding yesterday. More than likely the chase track will be a little quicker as it is on the outside but I would be worried about the ground for him.”

One of the leading ante-post fancies for the race has been the Christy Roche-trained Far From Trouble, 8-1 second best with Hills.

The seven-year-old will have the assistance of Tony McCoy in the saddle, which Roche admits is a huge plus, although his chances are also heavily dependant on the conditions underfoot.

But unlike Dix Villez, Far From Trouble is seen to best effect on soft ground.

“The horse is well,” said Roche. “It’s just a question of whether the ground is on the yielding side tomorrow. I have to stress that if it was any quicker he wouldn’t be a certain runner.

“It was on the slower side of yielding yesterday but there’s a dry day forecast today so I just hope it doesn’t get too quick.

“It’s a fairly big drop in trip tomorrow but he has won over the distance so it shouldn’t be too much of a worry.

“He was running a huge race in the Irish National before he fell so we are hoping for another big show tomorrow.

“We’ve certainly got the right man on board which is a help.”

William Hill Galway Plate, sponsors bet: 4-1 Ansar, 8-1 Far From Troble, Ursumman, 12-1 Coast to Coast, Manjoe, 14-1 Ball O Malt, Banasan, Wills Wilde, 16-1 Carlesimo, Dix Villez, Teo Perugo, 20-1 More Rainbows, Mutakarrim, 25-1 bar.