Confident Cumani heading up a strong British challenge at the Melbourne Cup

Can Betfair columnist Ryan Moore go from Breeders' Cup glory to a Melbourne Cup win aboard Mount Athos?

A clutch of big name UK trainers are once again in Australia chasing Melbourne Cup glory, Isabel Mathew has spoken to a handful of the main hopefuls...

No British based trainer has ever won the Emirates Melbourne Cup, but Luca Cumani is confident that he can rectify that on Tuesday with either Mount Athos (Ryan Moore) or My Quest For Peace (Corey Brown).

This is the seventh year that the Italian has attempted the feat, and he believes this can change this with "the two strongest horses that I have ever brought down here."

Unbeaten since joining the Newmarket trainer at the beginning of the year, Mount Athos was last seen winning the Geoffrey Freer Stakes in August.

"We have a perfect draw in eight, which gives us plenty of options for him. I think he has really matured with age, and has a great profile for this kind of race.

"My Quest For Peace has really flourished out here (drawn one) and I think he has really slipped under the radar. I've been really pleased with how he's been going, and think that he has a very good chance as well. Both horses are very progressive, with the same sort of profiles as Purple Moon (second in 2007)."

Red Cadeaux finished just a nose behind Dunaden in last year's edition, and despite a number 18 draw, which no horse has ever won the race from, connections are hoping to change this. The six-year-old will once again be ridden by Michael Rodd, and receives 3.5kg from Dunaden.

"I rode him last Tuesday and he feels fantastic. My confidence has grown a lot since then, and he seems to have put on a lot more muscle than last year. He's been here and done it before which is very important because our style of racing is very different," said Dodd. 

"He's very adaptable, and got a great turn of foot. We know he can stay the distance so I am very hopeful."

Ed Dunlop added: "This race was always the plan this year, and he has been specifically aimed at it. We were drawn 17 last year, and I don't think it is a worry at all."

Two horses that have drawn less attention down here are Saeed bin Suroor's Cavalryman and Jakkalberry, trained by Marco Botti.

Everything has gone according to plan for the former, and his trainer is another to outline that the  Group 1 winner is the best horse he has ever brought down here. Godolphin have finished runner-up in the Melbourne Cup three times, and Frankie Dettori will be bidding to go out with a bang on his last ever ride for them.

Jakkalberry finished down the field in the Caulfield Cup behind Dunaden and Americain, however Botti thinks there is better to come. "The aim was always this race, and it was good to get a race under his belt. He will be much sharper for that, and he is in very good form."

Dermot Weld became the first international trainer to win the Melbourne Cup in 1993 with Vintage Crop, and he sends over Galileo's Choice. The gelding has been subject to strong reports, perhaps in part due to his trainer's reputation.

His unusual route through the hurdling ranks could serve to really advantage the seven-year-old, who won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes in August on his latest start.