Deauville Legend heads ten British and Irish runners still in Melbourne Cup

Ante-post favourite Deauville Legend was one of just ten British- and Irish-trained runners left in the Lexus Melbourne Cup as 97 remain following the first acceptance stage.

Deauville Legend, trained by James Ferguson, tops the market following his victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. He is a best-priced 10-1 for the Group 1 handicap.

Hoo Ya Mal, who was bought by an Australian syndicate led by Sir Owen Glenn for £1.2 million in June and has since got off the mark for his new owners when landing the Group 3 March Stakes at Goodwood last month, also features.

The three-year-old will first run in Saturday's Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster and, all being well, will then join the powerful training tandem of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse for the latter half of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Hoo Ya Mal: will run in the St Leger before heading to AustraliaCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The Roger Varian-trained Queen's Vase winner Eldar Eldarov, who also goes in the St Leger, was left in along with Ebor runner-up Alfred Boucher for Ian Williams, the David Simcock-trained Rodrigo Diaz and Without A Fight for in-form Simon and Ed Crisford.

Joseph O'Brien, who has won the race twice in the last five years with Rekindling and Twilight Payment, has two representatives in the acceptors with Point King, who could line up in the Paddy Power Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday seeking a four-timer, and Temple Of Artemis.

Waterville is the sole entrant for Aidan O'Brien, who would be seeking a first win in the race, and the Paddy Twomey-trained Earl Of Tyrone completes the Irish contingent.

The total of ten entrants is the second lowest figure at this stage in the last six years, down from a high of 20 in 2018.

The death of 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the 2020 race resulted in Racing Victoria introducing more expansive veterinary checks for overseas raiders, while a cap on numbers at the Werribee quarantine facility also deterred potential runners last year.

That lead to just six entrants that were British- or Irish-trained despite a high of 124 entrants at this stage last year. Although there are ten this year, that is still down on the 13.2 average for the last six events.

Weights for the Melbourne Cup will be announced on September 13.

British and Irish-trained Melbourne Cup entrants at this stage

2022: 10 entrants (from 97)
2021: 6 entrants (from 124) - 2 ran
2020: 11 entrants (from 94) - 7 ran
2019: 17 entrants (from 80) - 10 ran
2018: 20 entrants (from 85) - 10 ran
2017: 12 entrants (from 55) - 9 ran

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