Last Ran: 4th November 2008

Septimus, trained by Aiden O Brien is the favourite for the 2008 Melbourne Cup, this Irish stayer won the Irish St Leger on his last outing in September. He has tremendous staying power but has a tendancy to hit a flat stop in the middle of a race.

Another worry has got to be the ground, he is unlikely to run if it is to firm although Victoria racing club have responded to this by saying the track will be watered before Tuesday. O'Brien also saddles Honolulu and Allesandro Volta .

The Luca Cuman trained Mad Rush looks an interesting prospect, drawn in gate four which has delighted connections as he will get good ground and jockey Damien Oliver will hopefully be able to get a good position from there. Last time out in the Caulfield Cup he was placed fourth, he stayed strongly and looked mightily impressive in the finishing stages. Cuman also sends Bauer to post.

Glen Boss has ridden three past winners of the Melbourne Cup and he has Profound Beauty as his hope this year. There are some concerns whether the four year old filly will manage the distance but support has been coming for her all week. Her trainer Dermot Weld from Ireland has produced two winners here before in 1993 and 2002.

In the Australian camp we have Zipping who leads their challenge he has come fourth here in the last two runnings and he looks in great form with a second place in the Cox Plate.

C'est La Guerre also for the Australians could run a good one but needs a bit of rain, he hasnt set the world on fire recently but he certainly has the talent if conditions are right.