Melbourne Cup 2018: Favourite Withhold not guaranteed a run as the weights for Melbourne Cup are revealed
Roger Charlton's star stayer is currently 58th in the order of entry for the big Australian Group 1
MELBOURNE CUP favourite Withhold is not guaranteed a run in the race after the weights for the Group 1 were released.
The Roger Charlton-trained five-year-old is 58th in the order of entry for the A$7,300,000 feature and is currently due to carry 53kg (8st 5lb).
The maximum field for the Melbourne Cup, which will be staged on 6 November at Flemington racecourse, is 24 runners.
The last horse to get a run in last year's Melbourne Cup was Cismontane, who carried 7st 12lb and was 89th in the order of entry at the release of the weights.
Withhold, who is as short as 8-1 for the big race, was one of 41 British and Irish-trained horses to be entered for the prestigious handicap, with 183 entries overall.
Aidan O'Brien has 13 entries, including St Leger favourite Kew Gardens, while last year's winning trainer Joseph O'Brien has entered three horses headed by Irish Derby hero Latrobe.
Selected British and Irish entries for Melbourne Cup
2. (No. in ballot) Best Solution, Saeed bin Suroor -57.5kg
5. Cliffs Of Moher, Aidan O'Brien - 56.5kg
7. Idaho, Aidan O'Brien - 56kg
8. Magic Circle, Ian Williams - 56kg
13. Muntahaa, John Gosden - 55.5kg
19. Marmelo, Hughie Morrison - 55kg
21. Weekender, John Gosden - 55kg
28. Count Octave, Andrew Balding - 54kg
33. Max Dynamite, Willie Mullins - 54kg
36. Red Verdon, Ed Dunlop - 54kg
40. Hamada, Charlie Appleby - 53.5kg
48. Kew Gardens, Aidan O'Brien - 53kg
51. Nakeeta, Iain Jardine - 53kg
53. Prince Of Arran, Charlie Fellowes - 53kg
58. Withhold, Roger Charlton - 53kg
71. Latrobe, Joseph O'Brien - 52kg
85. Flag Of Honour, Aidan O'Brien - 51kg
Ian Williams's top two-miler Magic Circle is guaranteed a run and has currently been allotted 56kg.
The Marwan Koukash-owned gelding has been off the track since easily winning the Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May.
John Gosden has two entries guaranteed of a run, with Ebor first and second Muntahaa and Weekender inside the top 21.
Count Octave pushed Stradivarius close at York last month, and he is almost certain of a run for trainer Andrew Balding.
LATEST IN HORSE RACING
The first declaration stage for the 'race that stops a nation' is on 9 October.
The second declarations are due on 29 October, with the final field announced three days before the race on 3 November.
Find out all you need to know about the Melbourne Cup with our in depth guide here!