Willie Mullins hopes Vauban can end his 20-year wait for huge Melbourne Cup win

06 November 2023 , 15:52

604     0

Willie Mullins has won numerous trophies in jump racing and now sets his sights on the Melbourne Cup (Image: PA)

Willie Mullins has high hopes Lexus Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban will end his stable's 20-year wait for a win in the race.

The top Irish handler has had Flemington's feature on the stayer's agenda for a significant period of time. William Hill's 5-2 favourite, a Grade 1-winning hurdler, made a flawless return to the Flat in recent months.

A seven-and-a-half-length winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, Vauban took his form up a notch in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes.

He is joined in the 23-runner line-up by stablemate Absurde, who lit up Frankie Dettori's British farewell tour when it stopped off at York. Mullins' pair could add another Irish-trained name to the roll of honour, joining Vintage Crop (1993), Media Puzzle (2002), Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020).

The trainer's Max Dynamite was second in 2015 and 2017 and 20 years after saddling his first runner Holy Orders, Mullins expects Vauban to be involved in the finish under Ryan Moore.

Mullins doesn't hold back after Paul Townend's defeats on Cheltenham hopes

“It’s our strongest chance ever, it probably will be my strongest chance ever," he said. "I think Vauban is as good as Max Dynamite and maybe better. We wouldn't want to forget Absurde either, he did it very well with Frankie (Dettori) in the Ebor." A crowd of 100,000 is expected at Flemington, for "the race that stops a nation", run at 4am UK time.

Vauban: Triumph Hurdle winner is favourite for the Melbourne Cup (PA)

Moore and Hollie Doyle, the first female participant from outside Australia or New Zealand, have travelled over from the Breeders Cup fixture in America.

Aidan O'Brien hailed Moore's "brilliant ride" on Turf hero Auguste Rodin, as he nipped around the final turn to steal a winning advantage. Doyle, a spectator in the US due to a ban, rides Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trainee Future History.

"Obviously when we were on the hunt for a mount, we realised how hard it would be to get one, so it’s great that Future History has come about and that Peter Trainor and the owners have let me ride him," Doyle said.

Hollie Doyle: Britain's most successful female jockey will have her first ride in the Melbourne Cup (PA)

“Peter Trainor has horses in training in England and Ireland and I rode him a winner this year, a two-year-old filly with Archie Watson. Future History has to take another step forward but he has a live chance.”

Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien seeks to continue his excellent record with Okita Soushi. Meanwhile, Gold Trip bids to become the first consecutive champion since hat-trick heroine Makybe Diva in 2004. And locally-based Damien Oliver is due to take part for the final time, but his mount Alenquer has to pass the vet to race.

Melbourne Cup 2023 runners and latest odds from William Hill

1 Gold Trip 13-2

2 Alenquer 33-1

3 Without A Fight 11-2

4 Breakup 16-1

Ladbrokes Gold Cup in Punchestown will be Galopin Des Champs' next assignment

5 Vauban 5-2

6 Soulcombe 8-1

7 Absurde 8-1

8 Right You Are 28-1

9 Vow And Declare 22-1

11 Ashrun 33-1

12 Daqiansweet Junior 40-1

13 Okita Soushi 40-1

14 Sheraz 100-1

15 Lastotchka 14-1

16 Magical Lagoon 100-1

17 Military Mission 22-1

18 Serpentine 33-1

19 Virtuous Circle 100-1

20 More Felons 22-1

21 Future History 14-1

22 Interpretation 50-1

23 Kalapour 33-1

24 True Marvel 100-1

Melissa Jones