Frankie Dettori has picked up the plum ride of Almandin in this year's Melbourne Cup following Damien Oliver's suspension. His mount has been at the head of the market since the weights were published which is hardly surprising given last year's thrilling victory over Heartbreak City. Hartnell, who started favourite a year ago, appeared to have had every chance but has been confined to much shorter trips this campaign in the hope of conserving his stamina for the big one. Who Shot Thebarman finished a gallant fifth last year when not getting a clear run. He enters the fray in winning form and has been well supported, though has nothing in hand of Libran and Big Duke on recent form. The latter was last seen in the UK winning a Class 4 at Wetherby for Michael Wigham and it's fair to say he's improved a bit since then. Those who have witnessed JOHANNES VERMEER in his last two starts won't want to miss him this time. Aidan O'Brien's charge has finished powerfully in Group 1 races at Caulfield suggesting this stamina test will be just the job. He tackles the 1-2 from the Caulfield Cup - Boom Time and Single Gaze - while Hughie Morrison's Marmelo ran an eye-catching race back in sixth and he'll be much better suited by today's trip. Max Dynamite almost gave Willie Mullins and Frankie Dettori a surprise victory here in 2015. However, he entered the fray in much better form having finished runner-up in the Galway Hurdle before winning the Lonsdale Cup at York. Mullins also runs Wicklow Brave and Thomas Hobson though it's stretching the imagination to believe either could win this. Humidor beat Hartnell in a Group 1 here though that was over a mile. He was behind several of these in the Caulfield Cup but has since produced a superb run in the Cox Plate when giving Winx a fright, though whether he'll stay this much longer trip is another matter. Tiberian has won four of his last five though the quicker ground may find him out and he's never proved he stays this far. Hugo Palmer's Wall Of Fire ran a tremendous trial in a Group 2 handicap at Caulfield but was well beaten behind Red Admiral over this trip on fast ground at Belmont earlier and the winner, who is owned by Coolmore, is better than he showed behind Marmelo at Deauville last time. As we saw with Heartbreak City last year, winning the Ebor doesn't exclude a big run here so Iain Jardine's Nakeeta can give a good account.
Hartnell (9-4) 9th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Gailo Chop (9-4) at Caulfield 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Oct.
Almandin (GER) 10-1 (8-3) won at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) in Nov beating Heartbreak City (8-7) by hd, 24 ran.
Humidor (AUS) (9-4) 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Winx (9-0) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Tiberian (FR) (9-6) won at Deauville 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Aug beating Doha Dream (9-6) by shd, 7 ran.
Marmelo (9-4) won at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 gd in Aug beating Desert Skyline (8-7) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Red Cardinal (IRE) (9-6) 5th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Marmelo (9-4) at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 gd in Aug.
Johannes Vermeer (IRE) (9-4) 2nd of 11, nk behind Gailo Chop (9-4) at Caulfield 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Oct.
Bondi Beach (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) 13th of 24, 10 1/4l behind Almandin (8-3) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) in Nov.
Max Dynamite (FR) 4-9fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, travelling smoothly straight, switched right over 2f out, soon challenged between horses, pushed along to lead inside final furlong, quickly asserted, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Killarney 2m 1f Yielding in Aug beating Sandymount Duke (11-11) by 3l, 6 ran.
Ventura Storm (AUS) 16-1 (8-13) 2nd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Winx (9-0) at Flemington 1m 2f (1) gd in Oct.
Wicklow Brave 11-1 (9-10) Held up, improved into 4th 3f out and pushed along, soon chased winner and no impression, one pace final furlong and dropped to 4th near line, 4th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Order Of St George (9-10) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) sft in Sep.
Big Duke (AUS) (9-0) 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Who Shot Thebarman (8-9) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 3 gd in Oct.
Us Army Ranger (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, dropped to 4th 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, eased final 100 yards, last of 6, 7 1/2l behind Eziyra (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Boom Time (AUS) (8-13) 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Lord Fandango (8-5) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gd in Oct.
Gallante (IRE) 50-1 (8-8) 20th of 24, 21 1/2l behind Almandin (8-3) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) in Nov.
Libran (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Who Shot Thebarman (8-9) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 3 gd in Oct.
Nakeeta 12-1 (9-5) Towards rear, headway when not clear run over 2 fout, soon ridden, went 2nd 1f out, led narrowly final 100 yards, just held on, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Flymetothestars (9-4) by hd, 19 ran.
Single Gaze (AUS) (9-0) 4th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Gailo Chop (9-4) at Caulfield 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Oct.
Wall of Fire (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 10, 1l behind Lord Fandango (8-5) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gd in Oct.
Thomas Hobson 4-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, smooth headway over 3f out, led narrowly over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Desert Skyline (8-5) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gs in Sep.
Rekindling 10-1 (9-1) Held up behind, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to take 4th place towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Capri (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Amelie's Star (AUS) Testa Rossa M out of Zazita.
Cismontane (AUS) (8-9) 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Who Shot Thebarman (8-9) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 3 gd in Oct.
Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (8-9) won at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 3 gd in Oct beating Libran (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
