Racing: Aidan O'Brien's Yeats has been allotted top weight of 59 kilos (approximately 9st 4lb) in the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4th.
It is the third year in a row that the triple Ascot Gold Cup winner has topped the handicap in the race that stops a nation.
O'Brien's seven-year-old finished seventh in 2006 but missed the two-mile handicap 12 months ago.
His stablemate Septimus has been given 58.5kg (9st 3lb) while other O'Brien hopefuls high in the weights include Macathur on 55.5kg (8st 10lb) and Honolulu 53.5kg (8st 6lb).
Luca Cumani, who went close with Purple Moon last year, has Mad Rush (53.5kg, 8st 6lb) and Bauer (51kg, 8st) while among other prominent British-trained entries are St Leger winners Lucarno and Sixties Icon. Both have been given 56kg (8st 11lb).
Godolphin have multiple entries including Schiaparelli (56kg, 8st 11lb), Sagara (55kg, 8st 9lb), Stage Gift (54kg, 8st 7lb) and All The Good (53kg, 8st 5lb).
Last year's winner Efficient will carry 58kg (9st 2lb) in his bid to become just the sixth horse in history to win the race more than once.
The John Sadler-trained five-year-old was allotted 54kg last year and the 4kg increase includes a 2.5kg penalty for his success in 2007.
The Japanese-trained pair Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who were first and second in the 2006 renewal, have already been ruled out of the race because of Australia's strict quarantine regulations.
Emirates Melbourne Cup, Paddy Power betting: 9-1 Septimus, 12-1 Efficient, 16-1 Yeats, Kibbutz, Tuesday Joy, Patkai, Weekend Hussler, Mad Rush, 20-1 Profound Beauty, Maldivian, Nom Du Jeu, 25-1 bar.