UK Trainers Must Overcome Familiar Foes to Win the 2025 Melbourne Cup

Winning the Melbourne Cup has become a ‘bucket list’ achievement for many of the top horse racing trainers in the United Kingdom.

Charlie Appleby was the most recent UK trainer to win ‘the race that stops the nation’, with Cross Counter recording an epic victory in the 2018 edition.

Five UK-based horses were included in the 120 nominations for the 165th running of the Melbourne Cup, including David O’Meara’s Epic Poet.

The globetrotting stayer has already recorded noteworthy victories in the UK, France and the United Arab Emirates, and he could be in the line-up at Flemington Racecourse.

Furthur (Andrew Balding), Tabletalk (Tom Clover), Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison) and Meydaan (Simon & Ed Crisford) are other UK-trained horses who may run in the Melbourne Cup.

While each trainer will be eager to add their name to the prestigious roll of honour, their hopes of success could be scuppered by some familiar foes.

Republic of Ireland-based trainer Joseph O’Brien has won the race on two previous occasions with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.

He triggered a shake-up in the latest betting for the Melbourne Cup by saddling talented stayer Al Riffa to win the Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday.

The five-year-old is the new favourite to win the race on the sportsbooks featured on comparison platform AustralianBettingSites and he could be a tough nut to crack.

He was bought by syndicate operation Australian Bloodstock before the race and their investment could prove to be a shrewd decision.

Jockey Browne McMonagle guided his mount through the field from off the pace, and the combination never looked in danger of defeat.

McMonagle told Racing TV: “I'm delighted to get it because we've been hitting the crossbar all weekend. I fancied him as the conditions and trip were good and he had a lovely set-up.

"Things couldn't have gone better. There was plenty of speed on in the first half of the race, he relaxes well and has got a good kick when you need it. I was able to take my time and he quickened up and won well.

"He feels like he could go another couple of furlongs and the world is his oyster now. He's one of my favourites and owes me nothing."

O’Brien’s father Aidan could also be a thorn in the side of the UK trainers after confirming that English St Leger winner Scandinavia is on track to run in the Melbourne Cup.

The horse delivered a power-packed performance under jockey Tom Marquand and looks the ideal type to take his chance in Australia’s iconic sporting showpiece.

O’Brien previously saddled Tiger Moth to finish second in 2020, and has made no secret of his desire to record a victory in the Melbourne Cup.

However, O’Brien’s relationship with Victoria Racing Club (VRC) soured last year after his Jan Breughel was ruled out of the race by local vets. He described the decision as ‘ridiculous’.

Despite that disappointment, O’Brien seem to have lost none of his enthusiasm for attempting to add a Melbourne Cup success to his glittering career CV.

"He’s hardy and Tom gave him a great ride," O'Brien said after the St Leger. "He stays very well but we were a little bit worried when the ground got on the softer side.

“He’s a lovely horse. He’s a typical Justify, he’s very, very genuine. The better the ground, the better you’ll see from him and I’d say there’s plenty to come from him.

“Scandinavia is in the Melbourne Cup. It’s a possibility. He’ll have to go and get scanned and see whether he is eligible to go or not, but there’s a very good chance the lads might want to go down there with him.”