Thomas Hobson needs nine to come out to make Flemington line-up

The Magic Man is keen to try his tricks on Thomas Hobson in the Emirates Melbourne Cup but Joao Moreira and trainer Willie Mullins will need to make some of their rivals disappear over the next fortnight as the leading Irish hope is still only number 33 on the order of entry after Monday's latest acceptance stage.

The maximum Melbourne Cup field is 24 so nine need to come out if the wide-margin Ascot Stakes winner is to get a crack at the world's richest turf handicap.

Saturday's Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time, who went up 1kg to 53kg, is now exempted from the ballot, as is Amelie Star, who won a Group 3 at Flemington this month, and, as it stands, there will be five Irish-trained runners and just one from Britain in the line-up.

The sole British representative guaranteed a starting spot is the Hughie Morrison-trained Marmelo, who flew home to dead-heat for sixth in Saturday's Caulfield Cup over an inadequate 1m4f trip.

ORDER OF ENTRY FOR BRITISH AND IRISH RUNNERS

Rekindling (9), Marmelo (11), Johannes Vermeer (14), Max Dynamite (16), Wicklow Brave (18), US Army Ranger (21), Qewy (25), Nakeeta (26), Wall Of Fire (29), Thomas Hobson (33)

Tom Pirie, Morrisson's travelling head lad, was not surprised by the eyecatching display and reported that Marmello is none the worse for those exertions.

He said: "Marmelo is a very good horse, a proper horse, and I knew he was in good shape going to Caulfield. I wasn't one bit surprised by how well he ran.

"Hugh [Bowman] hopped off and just said to me 'we're in business now'. He has come out of the race fine and it is all systems go for the Melbourne Cup now. I'm really looking forward to it."

One Irish raider who is guaranteed a place in the starting line-up is Caulfield Cup third Johannes Vermeer and it will be interesting to see whether Ryan Moore will now come in for the ride after connections of Red Cardinal decided to opt for Kerrin McEvoy instead.