Hystericalady runs away with Molly Pitcher

Irish master trainer Aidan O’Brien will bid for an elusive Melbourne Cup win at a closed Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, having come close to snatching the “race that stops the nation” in recent years. O’Brien has saddled 15 runners in Australia’s iconic two-mile handicap and will have another two in the A$8 million ($5.60 million) Cup’s 160th running on Tuesday. Both entrants are highly regarded, with Tiger Moth a narrow 13-2 favourite ahead of last year’s Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (15-2).

The virtual reality Grand National is attracting punters and humour alike ahead of it stepping out of the shadows and for once taking centre stage on Saturday. Bookmakers are taking bets on the race which sees Tiger Roll attempt to become the first horse ever to win it on three successive occasions — late legend Red Rum’s three victories were not consecutive. Bookmakers are to donate profits from the race — in normal times the most gambled on in the calendar with an estimated 300 million pounds ($369 million) bet on last year’s edition — to the National Health Service.