2024 Melbourne Cup Entries - Five European Raiders To Watch

Royal Ascot winner Crystal Black, three-time Group Two winner Giavellotto, and Aidan O'Brien's globe-trotting stayer, Tower Of London have not been entered. Last year's beaten favourite, Vauban will have another crack at the Melbourne Cup. Willie Mullins' star will be joined on the plane over to Australia by Henry de Bromhead's mare Magical Zoe, who earned her spot in the Melbourne Cup by winning the historic Ebor Handicap at York.

Here are five other European horses for home fans to watch out for in the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

One of the unlucky losers in the Ebor Handicap was another Willie Mullins runner, Hipop De Loire (50/1 bet365). From a low draw in stall two, Colin Keane had to sit patiently and wait for gaps to open, which they never did, and Mullins looked on as his raider flew home late to finish a fairly close fourth.

Prior to that effort, Hipop De Loire hadn't run on the flat in Britain or Ireland. Mullins' recruit started his career in Poland before running up to a good level in several pattern races in Germany. Hipop De Loire made his debut for Mullins over hurdles earlier this month, and he'll revert to jumping when the National Hunt season returns, but there's no doubt that Willie's seven-year-old is well-treated on the flat.

Point Lonsdale is the highest-rated of Aidan O'Brien's six Melbourne Cup entrants. The most interesting could be Illinois (33/1 bet365), who will join stablemates and fellow entrants Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square in the St Leger at Doncaster in a couple of weeks.

A Group One-placer at two, Illinois has improved steadily during his three-year-old campaign. O'Brien's colt won the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and has since finished second twice over a mile-and-a-half, losing out to Sosie in the Grand Prix de Paris and stablemate Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Illinois likes fast ground and won't have any trouble seeing out the Melbourne Cup distance.

The Melbourne Cup could be on the agenda for Harbour Wind (50/1 Unibet), who's been seen just once so far this season. Dermot Weld's four-year-old made his comeback in the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick in June, and claimed a narrow victory in that Listed contest.

Weld's four-year-old holds some lofty entries in the UK this autumn, with both the Irish St Leger and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot under consideration. Weld spoke openly about a potential Melbourne Cup tilt this time last year, before deciding his inexperienced gelding was a little too green for the task. If all goes to plan in the coming weeks, Harbour Wind could emerge as a genuine Melbourne Cup contender.

Much like Hipop De Loire, Relentless Voyager (100/1 Unibet) failed to get the run of the race in the Ebor. Oisin Murphy stayed wide from his draw in stall 20, and Relentless Voyager was being ridden near the rear turning for home. Murphy could never find a clear path into contention, weaving first right, then darting left towards the rail. Yet, Relentless Voyager maintained his gallop throughout and hit the line hard back in eighth place.

Andrew Balding's improving four-year-old carried top weight into the Ebor, having placed in both the Grand Cup Stakes and the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood. The Melbourne Cup could be the ideal target for a stayer who remains firmly on the up.

The sole French entrant in this year's Melbourne Cup is Jean-Claude Rouget's Coolmore-owned colt, Delius (25/1 bet365). Delius only made his racecourse debut in April of this year, and quickly wrapped a hat-trick with victory in the Group Three Prix du Lys at Chantilly.

Delius' unbeaten record was ended in the Grand Prix de Paris, where the favourite was beaten into third behind Sosie and Illinois. A tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe could be on the cards in October, but after that, this lightly-raced son of Frankel could make the trip to Australia to compete in the world's richest handicap.