Yucatan drawn wide in Melbourne Cup

Aidan O'Brien's ante-post favourite Yucatan will start from the second-widest barrier draw in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

The Galileo colt heads the market for the Flemington showpiece after making a successful start to his stint in Australia in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield last month under James McDonald, who will keep the ride next week.

The final field of 24 was confirmed on Saturday and Yucatan was handed gate 23.

O’Brien will also saddle The Cliffsofmoher (nine), the mount of Ryan Moore, and Rostropovich (21), who will be partnered by Wayne Lordan.

A Prince Of Arran earned himself a last-minute shot at the Melbourne Cup after providing trainer Charlie Fellowes with his first Group-race success in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington.

The five-year-old has been a real star for the Newmarket handler this year, winning in Dubai back in February and finishing third in the Belmont Gold Cup in New York before returning to Britain to fill the runner-up spot in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

His Australian adventure got off to a fine start when he finished third behind Yucatan in last month’s Herbert Power Stakes, but anything less than victory in the Group Three Lexus Stakes would mean he would miss the cut for next week’s main event.

Ridden by Michael Walker, A Prince Of Arran moved powerfully to the lead in the home straight and kicked clear for a decisive success.

Fellowes told Press Association Sport: “I’m absolutely over the moon. This horse been great for us this year and it’s really fitting that our first Group-race winner has been for the Obaida family, who have been our biggest supporters.

“Obviously three days is not long for the horse to get over this and run again, but I don’t think he had an overly hard race today.

“The vets have checked him over already and they’re really happy with him, so we can look forward to Tuesday now.”

A Prince Of Arran’s triumph confirmed his place in the final field, but like Yucatan he will have to overcome a wide draw after being placed in barrier 20.

A Prince Of Arran is part of a strong team bidding to provide Britain with a first Melbourne Cup success.

The weights are head by Saeed bin Suroor’s Caulfield Cup hero Best Solution, who is in stall six.

The other British-trained contenders are the Ian Williams-trained Magic Circle (17), John Gosden’s Muntahaa (13), Hughie Morrison’s Marmelo (10), Iain Jardine’s Nakeeta (three) and Cross Counter (19), trained by Charlie Appleby.