2024 Melbourne Cup Weights - Defending champion Without A Fight tops ratings

In 2023, Anthony & Sam Freedman's recruit became just the 12th horse in the history of Australian racing to win the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in the same year. Without A Fight hasn't run since his victory at Flemington last November, but he'll make his reappearance in the 2024 Caulfield Cup, before heading back to Flemington two weeks later.

Without A Fight has been handed a weight of 58.5kg in this year's Melbourne Cup, two kilos more than 12 months ago. Next on the list is Via Sistina, who will also contest the Caulfield Cup before a possible tilt at "the race that stops a nation".

Middle Earth has made the move from Britain to Ciaran Maher's yard, and he'll shoulder 55.5kg. As could Royal Champion, who's yet to race for the Freedman's following his move from Roger Varian's yard at the start of the season.

Maher's leading contender could be Circle Of Fire, who was assigned a weight of 54kg. The well-fancied Warmonger would carry half a kilo less than that. Point King and The Map will shoulder a bottom weight of 50kg, and they're guaranteed a place in the final field following Golden Ticket victories in the Archer Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup respectively.

Henry De Bromhead's Ebor winner, Magical Zoe is also guaranteed a run in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, and she was handed a weight of 52.5kg on Tuesday. Many fancy that Dermot Weld's Harbour Wind has been treated kindly after the handicapper allotted him just 53kg.

Vauban was backed into favouritism for last year's Melbourne Cup, after being handed a weight of 55kg. Willie Mullins' star couldn't live up to his short pricetag but returns to Melbourne on the back of a solid second in the Irish St Leger, and Vauban will shoulder just half a kilo more this time around.

Stablemate Absurde will carry half a kilo less than when seventh in the race 12 months ago, despite winning the Listed Chester Stakes on his most recent start. Aidan O'Brien's three St Leger runners also feature in the entries, with winner Jan Brueghel handed a weight of 54kg, and runner-up Illinois a kilo less than his stablemate.