Melbourne Cup favourite Point Of Law will lead a field of 24 runners in the 166th running of the famous race at Flemington today.
The four-year-old stallion, trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Ethan Brown, is the favourite, with the race scheduled for 4pm.
Point Of Law heads a strong field of international stayers and Australian contenders, with Trustyourinstinct, Shockletz and Hopewell Rock among the leading chances.
Point Of Law has impressed in his recent outings, winning the Geelong Cup on his Australian debut after previously winning a Group 3 race over 2,615 metres in England.
However, he will need to overcome the challenge of an additional 600 metres, having never raced over the full Melbourne Cup distance of 3,200 metres.
Trustyourinstinct is a seven-year-old gelding bringing strong staying form into the race after winning the Curragh Cup in Ireland and finishing fourth in the Irish St Leger.
He will be ridden by James McDonald, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2021 on Verry Elleegant.
Shockletz is another leading contender, with the five-year-old mare carrying just 51 kilograms.
The Ciaron Maher-trained runner has been performing well and finished second in a Group 3 race at Flemington last Saturday.
Hopewell Rock had a narrow second-place finish in the Ebor Handicap in England, while Juja Kibo won the Moonee Valley Cup.
Australian contender So You Are is another runner attracting attention, having won his last four starts, including the Bendigo Cup and the St Leger at Randwick.
Meanwhile, last year's runner-up Goodie Two Shoes, the eight-year-old mare is returning to Flemington after finishing second in the Melbourne Cup last year.
The race is expected to be run on rain-affected ground.
The Melbourne Cup will be run at Flemington Racecourse at 4pm today.
Source: Fox Sports
