Gardens Shakes Off Setback

Franklins Gardens has recovered from lameness and his bid for Tuesday´s Emirates Melbourne Cup appears to be back on.

One of three British and Irish hopes for Australia´s biggest race, the Mark Tompkins-trained five-year-old pulled up lame following exercise on Friday morning and had to be treated with ice.

'Franklins Gardens is fine now and I intend to walk the course with Darryll (Holland) on Monday,' said Tompkins.

'They have put six millimetres of water on the track and had three millimetres in rain overnight so although it´s set to be hot on Tuesday we should be OK with the ground.'

Connections of Sir Michael Stoute´s Distinction have been left bewildered by his price Down Under, which is simmering at the 40-1 mark.

Although the Goodwood Cup winner would prefer the ground as fast as possible, the watering on the track is not expected to bother him.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: 'Distinction is in great form and the sun is set to shine on Tuesday so we are very hopeful as the ground should be fast enough for him to show his best.'

The horse´s huge price has not escaped the attention of one of his part-owners, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

'Sir Alex could not believe the horse was 40-1 here in Australia and he´s asked me to have a `small´ bet for him,' added Herbert.

? PA Sport