Irish hope out of Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup Flemington racecourse 0400 GMT, Tuesday
Coverage: BBC Radio 5 live commentary, report on BBC Sport website

Changingoftheguard, trained by David Hayes, may not be allowed to run

Race stewards decided on the morning of the race that Changingoftheguard would not be allowed to start the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday (0400 GMT).

Stewards raised concerns about the horse, imported from Ireland, at a trot during an examination on Monday.

Trainer David Hayes was furious with the decision which came after concern was raised about a hoof abcess.

A Racing Victoria spokesman said three vets ruled the horse was lame and could not run in the big race.

Australian Hayes, who trained 1994 winner Jeune, was furious with the decision, branding the examination team "knuckleheads" in comments to local media.

"They see lameness that is not there, simple as that," he said.

Changingoftheguard, was runner-up at the Ebor Handicap at York in August but had struggled since arriving in Melbourne to prepare for the Aus$5.5m (£3.05m) race.

His withdrawal left 23 horses, including three from Britain, in the two-mile (3,200m) handicap.

Crime Scene, Munsef and Balsaltico form the British challenge.

606: DEBATE Who do you think will win the Melbourne Cup?

Vets have also examined two of the four entrants trained by 81-year-old Bart Cummings, last year's winner Viewed and Roman Emperor, and cleared them to race.

Betting agencies have Viewed at 5-1 to make it two victories in a row.

If he did claim the ra e he would make history by establishing himself as the first winner of back-to-back Melbourne Cups with a Caulfield Cup success in between.

Cummings has won the race 12 times and Viewed is highly fancied this time, unlike last year, when the 40-1 shot beat Bauer by a head.

Cumming's two other entrants, Roman Emperor and and Allez Wonder, are highly fancied but the South Australian horse Alcopop could be the one to upset the odds.

Alcopop was once used to muster cattle but has won his last four starts and is backed by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who said: "I think he is the one to beat."

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