Septimus is the top weight for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien gave Septimus the all-clear for the Melbourne Cup after walking the Flemington track on Tuesday morning.

O'Brien decided the ground would not be too firm for his Irish St Leger winner in the "race that stops a nation."

The two-mile handicap is set to attract a crowd of more than 100,000, with Septimus and the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush the favourites to triumph.

Newmarket-based Cumani is bidding to have the Cup's first British winner.

There are a total of seven European runners in the 22-strong field.

But European horses have a poor record in Australia's famous contest, with just two wins in 148 years.

O'Brien has clocked up 21 Group One wins so far in 2008, four short of the world record of major victories in one year held by American trainer Bobby Frankel.

After walking the track, he said: "It's quick ground, there is no doubt about that, but we've discussed the situation and decided to let Septimus take his chance.

"Obviously, we would prefer if it doesn't get any faster before the Cup is run. They've done their best here but it will be faster ground than Septimus has raced on before."

O'Brien also runs Honolulu and Alessandro Volta.

606: DEBATE Septimus may not like the quick ground but nevertheless has an outstanding chance as well BigLog

"They are extremely well - both had a nice run before the Melbourne Cup," Cumani told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The European challenge is strong. If you believe the Aussie papers, they are all accepting defeat."

Irish trainer Dermot Weld is the only European to have won the big race Down Under and is targeting a third triumph with Profound Beauty after victories for Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).

Profound Beauty will be ridden by Glen Boss, who won the race three times on the great mare Makybe Diva, who beat Weld's Vinnie Roe in 2004 and 2005.

"His experience is very important for, in many ways, Profound Beauty is inexperienced and this is quite a big challenge for her," said Weld.

Boss added: "The first time I got on her, I thought she was a really nice individual.

"I think she'll be a great chance, a great ride in the race. When Dermot speaks, you listen."

However, European hopes suffered a blow when Lambourn trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam's entry Yellowstone was pulled out of the race after failing to recover from a hip injury.

Yellowstone was due to be ridden by John Egan, who was fined A$8000 (�3,350) for describing Australian veterinary surgeons as "tin-pot Hitlers."

He made the remark after vets ordered Yellowstone to undergo an additional fitness test at the weekend before being allowed to run in the race.

Australian racing stewards charged Egan with bringing the sport into disrepute and he was fined, and suffered another blow when his mount was later withdrawn.

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