LIVE: Second horse scratched from Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup tract is down to 22, with Lunar Flare scratched this greeting aft failing a vet inspection, portion Interpretation has been passed acceptable to run.

Stewards had antecedently confirmed the seven-year-old mare had presented with "lameness successful the disconnected fore."

"Racing Victoria vets re-inspected Lunar Flare and Interpretation this greeting up of today's Lexus Melbourne Cup," a connection reads.

"Lunar Flare inactive presented with lameness successful the disconnected fore and was not passed fit.

"Interpretation had improved upon inspection contiguous and was passed suitable to race."

This day is the 162nd moving of the Melbourne Cup, truthful if you're trying to prime a victor you mightiness look to past to assistance you.

The astir palmy saddlecloth is 4, which has saluted connected 12 antithetic occasions. Montefilia volition transportation fig 4 today, and Wide World of Sports racing adept Simon O'Donnell is 1 of those tipping the David Payne-trained mare to get the win today.

Vow and Declare took retired the Melbourne Cup successful 2019, and the seven-year-old volition commencement from obstruction 4 this afternoon.

Trained by Danny O'Brien, Vow and Declare ran 5th successful the Caulfield Cup past month, and 1 of Australia's starring trainers thinks jockey Blake Shinn has a large accidental to adhd to his 2008 Melbourne Cup triumph connected Viewed.

"Vow And Declare, that's it," Wayne Hawkes told SEN.

"The lone query is the bedewed track."

Vow and Declare volition request to marque history, with nary equine winning the Melbourne Cup 3 years aft archetypal taking victory.

It's adust astatine the infinitesimal astatine Flemington for Melbourne Cup time but the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting rainfall passim the day.

There's a 95 per cent accidental of showers, with a apical somesthesia of lone 15 degrees. With the upwind chill, the evident somesthesia erstwhile the Cup is tally astatine 3pm volition beryllium conscionable 9 degrees, and determination could beryllium up to 15mm of rainfall done the day.

Flemington's had 30mm successful the past week, with the way rated a brushed 5 this morning. For those who lone travel racing connected 1 time a year, tracks are rated connected a standard of 1-10, with 1 being adust and hard, and 10 precise bedewed and soft.

The Melbourne Cup volition already leap with a reduced field, aft Point Nepean was scratched connected Monday pursuing a vet check.

Two much runners volition request to beryllium checked again connected Tuesday greeting earlier taking their spot successful the barriers.

Lunar Flare, trained by Grahame Begg, "presented with lameness successful the disconnected fore" according to Racing Victoria stewards.

Interpretation, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, "presented with lameness successful the adjacent fore" and volition besides request to beryllium checked and cleared earlier racing.

The last scratching clip is 7.30am connected contention morning.

There are nary emergencies permitted for the Melbourne Cup, truthful nary horses are capable to regenerate the scratchings.

Good greeting everyone, and invited to the champion time of the twelvemonth for galore sports lovers astir Australia!

All eyes volition crook to Flemington wherever we person a stacked 10-race paper and tens of thousands of revellers flocking to the iconic Melbourne track.

The Melbourne Cup will, arsenic always, leap astatine 3pm, erstwhile the tract of runners volition combat for the astir prestigious trophy successful Aussie equine racing - on with the $7.75 cardinal successful prizemoney.

We volition support you up to day with each the latest Cup news, including equine scratchings and experts' tips, arsenic good as each the happenings from the way and the six races earlier the main event.

Stay tuned present - and bully luck if you're having a flutter.