The wait for the 2026 Melbourne Cup is almost over!
Australia's most famous race is the highlight among Melbourne's Spring Carnival, which involves a whole host of top-class events including the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup, Geelong Cup, Cox Plate and Victoria Derby.
Cross Counter is the sole victor to hail from the UK in 165 attempts, however, Ireland have a far better record in the race, saddling four different winners. Noel Meade was the first UK & Irish trainer to win "the race that stops a nation" when he saddled Vintage Crop to success in 1993.
Meade struck again in 2002 with Media Puzzle, very much blazing a trail for Joseph O'Brien's twin successes with Rekindling and Twilight Payment.
Viewers in the UK & Ireland will have to prepare themselves for an early get up, with runners set to jump at 04:00 GMT.
This year, there are as many as eight British & Irish challengers for the £2.2m prize.
O'Brien accounts for five of them: Sons And Lovers, Trustyourinstinct, Goodie Two Shoes, James J Braddock and Kizylar all set to take their chance as the yard seeks a famous Melbourne Cup hat-trick.
JP MCManus owns two of those, but it is Trustyourinstinct who is the more fancied. Fourth in the Irish St Leger behind Scandinavia last time out, he does have to shoulder 9st0lb, however, he is a very classy performer that clearly relishes to gruelling two-mile trip.
The UK has two runners; Roger Varian and Harry Charlton sending over Enfjaar and Wine Dark Sea respectively.
Enfjaar has been steadily backed in the build-up after drawing barrier eight and was a good third in the Caulfield Cup on his first start down under.
