The field for the 160^th edition of the Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) is down to 23 horses following the scratching of Danny O’Brien’s Adelaide Cup winner King Of Leogrance this morning.

Adelaide Cup winner King Of Leogrance has been scratched from the 2020 Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The French-bred Camelot six-year-old, proven over the two miles in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) during the autumn, was inspected by Racing Victoria veterinarians upon request of the stable and was found to be lame in its off fore leg.

King Of Leogrance was officially scratched from the Melbourne Cup field at 7:38am (AEDT) leaving 23 of the world’s best stayers to battle it out in the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ at 3:00pm (AEDT).

The Melbourne Cup scratching of King Of Leogrance, who was drawn in the hoodoo Melbourne Cup barrier 18, sees a number of the wider-drawn horses come in one barrier.

The unwanted gate 18 now belongs to the Andrew Balding-trained international Dashing Willoughby.

The other changes to the Melbourne Cup barriers are:

• #24 Persan (20 into 19)
• #16 Steel Prince (21 into 20)
• #20 Etah James (22 into 21)
• #21 Tiger Moth (23 into 22)
• #18 Ashrun (24 into 23)

Last year’s winning stable are left with three hopes of going back-to-back with Danny O’Brien still well-represented saddling-up the defending champion Vow And Declare, the talented Russian Camelot and Moonee Valley Gold Cup winning mare Miami Bound.

Updated Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Irish raider Tiger Moth as the firming favourite heavily backed into $6.50.

Three-time Melbourne Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy has the mount on the Aidan O’Brien-trained youngster who lines-up for just his fifth career start.

He made the race after earning a 2.5kg penalty for a runaway four length win over the mile and half carrying 58.5kg overseas last start and drops down to just 52.5kg today.

Tiger Moth’s gun stablemate Anthony Van Dyck is also in the mix looking to join a select few in carrying the 58.5kg top weight to victory in the Melbourne Cup.

Excellent running second in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last time out, Anthony Van Dyck is out to $9.50 to go one better in the world’s richest handicap with Hugh Bowman the pilot in barrier three.

Surprise Baby ($8) who flashed home late for a brilliant fifth in the race last year is the only other contender under double-figures in the current Melbourne Cup betting markets.

Click here for the latest 2020 Melbourne Cup odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.