It is never too early to start combing through the Melbourne Cup entries ahead of the race that stops a nation.

The Derby has been run and won, and the barrier draw has sorted the all-important starting positions for the great race. Here’s the field of 24, starting with the top weight.

Al Riffa (Fra)

6yoH (stallion), 59kg

Barrier: 19

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Mark Zahra

Career: 15: 5-5-1

Last start: First of nine, group 1 Irish St Leger (2816 metres)

Michelle Payne: He sounds a very exciting horse. Barrier is definitely no help but if the rain comes it might bring him more into calculations. The weight is obviously the question mark.

Danny Russell says: Impeccable UK and Irish form, and bought by Australian connections with this race in mind. But history says that to

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