O'Brien Pair Head Melbourne Cup Market

This year's Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) Nov. 3 will be unlike any other in the 159-year history of Australia's greatest race.

The pageantry provided by the 120,000 spectators, who usually pack Flemington's three grandstands to the seams, will be nowhere to be found, the gates locked due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Yet while the day will be devoid of its carnival atmosphere, the action on the track looks to be as good as ever, with a battalion of British and Irish-trained challengers set to clash with some of Australia's best.

Of the group of foreign runners, it is Aidan O'Brien who holds the strongest hand with Tiger Moth and Anthony Van Dyck locked together as the general 6-1 joint-favorites.

Anthony Van Dyck, who will be ridden by Winx's jockey Hugh Bowman, won the 2019 Investec Derby (G1) before embarking on a winless streak of seven races which came to an end when he got the better of Stradivarius in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) at ParisLongchamp in September.

An excellent runner-up finish in the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (G1) on his first Australian start last month looks to have placed him in prime position for a Cup tilt, but he does have to carry top weight.

Tiger Moth has just four career starts compared with his stablemate's 18, but a second in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) behind Santiago and a maiden group-level victory last time makes his unexposed profile intriguing.

However, the difficulty facing him will not be weight, but rather a wide draw in stall 23.

O'Brien said: "Everyone has been very happy with Anthony Van Dyck and Hugh Bowman was delighted with him when he rode him. He had a very good run in the Caulfield Cup.

"We were delighted with Tiger Moth's run in the Irish Derby and again on Irish Champions Weekend. His prep has gone very well and it was always the plan to go straight to this race and not have a run in Australia beforehand.

"We're happy with his weight and he's shown he stays a mile and four furlongs well."

While O'Brien is still searching for his first Melbourne Cup victory, his son Joseph is attempting to win his second.

The trainer saddles Twilight Payment and Master of Reality this year, with both carrying the silks of owner Lloyd Williams as Rekindling did when winning at Flemington in 2017.

O'Brien said: "Master of Reality went close last year and he's in good form again this time. Twilight Payment has run a couple of career bests this season, even though he's not getting any younger. He's holding his form well."

Of the British-trained contenders, it is Prince of Arran who catches the eye as he returns for a third go at a race in which he has been placed in the last two runnings. Andrew Balding is represented by Dashing Willoughby, who finished last in the Caulfield Cup last time.

"It's a tough race but I couldn't be happier with where he is," said of Prince of Arran's trainer Charlie Fellowes. "His prep has been targeted towards this race specifically and if that makes a difference we are in with a massive shout." 

The Australian challenge is headed by Sir Dragonet, who won the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) last month on his first start for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace since leaving Aidan O'Brien.

TAB South Australian Derby (G1) winner Russian Camelot and last year's Cup fifth Surprise Baby are the other locally trained runners to figure prominently in the market.

The ground at Flemington was listed as good on Sunday.