MELBOURNE CUP
Date: Tuesday 2 November, 0400 GMT Venue: Flemington racecourse Commentary: BBC Radio 5 live Report:BBC Sport website

So You Think won comfortably in his last race on Saturday

Hot favourite So You Think, trained by 12-time winner Bart Cummings, heads the 150th Melbourne Cup field on Tuesday.

The Cox Plate winner warmed up for the 'race that stops a nation' by claiming the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

Cummings has been in hospital during the build-up but will have been cheered by his horse's draw in stall three.

No UK-based horse has ever won the race, and this year's British challenge is down to four after vets ruled out the Luca Cumani trained Bauer.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard Holberg, who is trained in Newmarket by Saeed bin Suroor.

A crowd of more than 100,000 is expected at Flemington racecourse for one of Australia's biggest annual sporting occasions.

So You Think added to his growing reputation by speeding clear of his rivals on Saturday. Cummings, nicknamed the 'Cups King', is also set to run Precedence.

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The 82-year-old was released from hospital at the weekend after a respiratory infection and is expected to take place at the track as he bids for his 13th win in the race.

So You Think is set to go off as odds-on favourite for the two-mile race, although the four-year-old, who will be ridden by Steven Arnold, has never raced past a mile and two furlongs.

Ireland's Dermot Weld, the only European trainer to have savoured a Melbourne Cup victory, saddles Profound Beauty, who is drawn on the outside in 22.

Weld won the race in 1993 with Vintage Crop and 2002 with Media Puzzle, and jockey Pat Smullen is hopeful of adding to the trainer's successes in the race.

"I couldn't be more pleased with her and she's a better mare than she was two years ago, but she'll need to be to win," Smullen said. "The draw is not ideal but not impossible."

There was mixed news for the Godolphin team as Holberg made the cut. Drawn in 10, he will be partnered by Frankie Dettori. However, Campanologist - to be partnered by Kerrin McEvoy - was drawn 19.

"Holberg's draw is the best for me," said bin Suroor. "He has good tactical speed and Frankie wanted to ride him because of the weight. Campanologist has a chance too though. I like both of them. He's in great form, he looks in very good condition."

Newmarket trainer Cumani's hopes rest on Manighar in 20 following the withdrawal of 2008 runner-up Bauer.

William Knight's Illustrious Blue is in nine, while French runner Americain will break from number 12.

MELBOURNE CUP Racecard number, name (draw)

1 Shocking (24)
2 Campanologist (19)
3 So You Think (3)
4 Zipping (16)
5 Illustrious Blue (9)
6 Mr Medici (5)
7 Shoot Out (17)
8 Americain (12)
9 Tokai Trick (4)
10 Buccellati (21)
11 Descerado (1)
12 Harris Tweed (13)
13 Manighar (20)
14 Master O'Reilly (18)
15 Monaco Consul (14)
16 Profound Beauty (22)
17 Zavite (7)
18 Bauer (2) (WITHDRAWN)
19 Holberg (10)
20 Precedence (15)
21 Red Ruler (8)
22 Linton (23)
23 Once Were Wild (11)
24 Maluckyday (6)

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