Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman are in danger of losing their Melbourne Cup 2017 contender Jon Snow with the Kiwi galloper showing signs of lameness ahead of next Tuesday’s ‘Race That Stops A Nation’.

There is a fitness cloud over Jon Snow ahead of the 2017 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The fitness of the four-year-old Iffraaj entire has come under fire following the final Melbourne Cup horse examinations by Racing Victoria stewards on Friday.

Winner of the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in the autumn in Sydney, Jon Snow has had five runs back down under the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

All have been in preparation for the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7, and the team are hoping all have not been in vain.

Ninth behind the Lindsay Park-trained Boom Time in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21, Jon Snow was found to have issues with both of his fore feet after being re-examined on Saturday morning.

He must pass another examination before being passed clear to run in the 24 horse Melbourne Cup field.

Jon Snow is currently No. 5 on the Melbourne Cup order of entry and the connections of many rival horses right on the cusp of making the starting line-up in the two mile classic will be sweating on his final fitness test.

Currently it is the William Mullins-trained Irish war horse Thomas Hobson most needing an attrition rate having been balloted out of the Melbourne Cup field after the 2017 Lexus Stakes results.

He was No. 24 but was leapfrogged by the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2000m) winner Cismontane who was equal No. 31 before earning the ballot and penalty exemption with the gutsy Derby Day win.

Jon Snow has eased out to $51 in all-in Melbourne Cup betting odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, which remain led by the reigning Lloyd Williams-owned champion Almandin ($6.50).

Baker & Forsman earlier had to send their dual Oaks winner Bonneval back home across the Tasman after the on-time Caulfield Cup favourite failed to fire with soundness issues of her own.

The bookies are still keeping Thomas Hobson safe at $15 in pre-field Melbourne Cup markets, while Cismontane has been slashed from triple figures to $41 to hand co-trainer Waterhouse her second win after the success of Fiorente in 2013.

Get behind your early Melbourne Cup 2017 Tips online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.