Preview and tips for Tuesday's Lexus Melbourne Cup

View from connections

Aidan O’Brien - Anthony Van Dyck &Tiger Moth: “They are two very nice horses we sent this year – a Derby winner and an Irish Derby runner-up. We were very happy with Anthony Van Dyck’s run in the Caulfield Cup.

“The lads who are over there with him, and Shane who rides him out, are all very happy with him. Hugh (Bowman) has sat on him a few times and has been very happy with him.

“Tiger Moth obviously hasn’t run over there but he ran an excellent race in the Irish Derby and won well the race before he left to go to Australia.

“There wasn’t really any other race he could run in, and he was just getting in the Melbourne Cup with a nice weight, so we decided not to run him (beforehand).

“They’ve been very happy since he’s been down there – everything is very good with him, and I suppose there’s just another canter to go. I’m hoping they both run well.”

“We’ve got one drawn inside (Anthony Van Dyck in three) and one on the outside (Tiger Moth 23) – so who knows, we’ll see how that plays out,” added O’Brien.

“I’ll be speaking to both Hugh and Kerrin before the race, and see what the lads think. I’m delighted to have the two of them – they are two great riders with great experience.”

“These are two high-class colts who get a mile and a half well, so we’ll see how they do. It’s always a great race – different this year with no crowd I’m sure, but exciting all the same.”

Charlie Fellowes - Prince Of Arran:

“I’m gutted that I’m not over there. Melbourne has been a huge part of my life for the last two years. “I’d give a lot to be there right now, but there are bigger things going on in the world.

“The horse has done it all before – he knows what to expect, and I know everything is being done as if I was there.

“The more I think about stall one the happier I am. He’s clever, he’s seven – and there’s a reason he’s still at the top of his game, he’s looked after himself by only doing what he has to, so an inside barrier makes life easier.

“When he gets too much daylight that is when he thinks it is job done. If he flops out of the gate we might have a problem, but I’m pretty confident that is not going to happen.

“The last two years, our ‘Derby’ has been the race before the Melbourne Cup – to get into it. This year we’ve known we were going to be in, so I’ve almost been able to take my time and we’ve kept him fresh – knowing the first Tuesday in November is the day that really matters.

“Obviously Michelle Payne won it on Prince Of Penzance from stall one, so we’re hoping Jamie can win from stall one on another Prince. Jamie is on a roll, and everything she sits on she thinks she’s going to win.”

Man On The Spot verdict

What a great race in prospect. Eight European raiders including Ashrun, who won the Group 3 Hotham here on Saturday, and Aidan O'Brien's lightly-weighted Tiger Moth, runner-up in the Irish Derby and a very impressive Group 3 winner at Leopardstown.

Last year's Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck also represents the yard and he's been in superb form, just failing to concede Verry Elleegant 8lb in the Caulfield Cup but confidently expected to reverse the form over this trip. Willie Mullins knows exactly what it takes to come here with a chance so Lonsdale Stakes runner-up Stratum Albion won't be here for the fresh air while Prince Of Arran absolutely loves the place having won the Lexus Stakes in 2018 and finished placed in this great race for the past two years.

Dashing Willoughby finished last in the Caulfield Cup but that wasn't his form while Joseph O'Brien's pair Master Of Reality and Twilight Payment bid to emulate the 2017 hero Rekindling and both have been aimed for the race all year. The former Ballydoyle inmate Sir Dragonet landed the Cox Plate last time but last year's winner Vow And Declare hasn't been in anything like that kind of form this time around.

The home challenge may well be headed by last year's fifth SURPRISE BABY, who got no sort of run in the Turnbull Stakes last time and has the bonus of Craig Williams in the saddle. He's been aimed at the race since a year ago and can repel the huge raiding party.