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Danny Mullins believes his uncle Willie’s pair of top-class stayers have every chance of success in the 2023 Melbourne Cup, writes Ben Hart.

Joseph O’Brien has landed two memorable victories in recent trips down under, but it’s Willie Mullins who appears to have the best Irish chances for the 2023 renewal of the race which stops a nation.

He fires Vauban and Absurde in Tuesday’s showpiece, while O'Brien runs Okita Soushi, and jockey Danny Mullins, who has ridden Vauban on four occasions including this year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, is backing the Closutton-trained horses to make a mark in Melbourne.

“To have a runner at the Melbourne Cup is a once in a lifetime achievement for any trainer, let alone to have two with big chances,” he said.

“It’s a class, worldwide race, it's on a par with the Arc for the stayers.

What a stunning performance from Vauban!

Willie Mullins’ star is awesome in the Copper Horse Handicap for Ryan Moore in the Ricci Silks at #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/4ZVadbVAEP

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2023

“If Absurde or Vauban can go and do the job that would be truly unbelievable. Joseph has shown in recent years that European horses are still top class, so with a bit of luck they will go there with a big chance on the day.

“I remember being young, getting up to watch Holy Orders run in the race, and Dermot Weld had won it years before that as well.

“So there has been a strong Irish connection with the race for a long time.”

Weld made history in 1993 when Vintage Crop became the first European horse to win the fabled Flemington Grade 1 and he returned for a second triumph with Media Puzzle in 2002.

Fifteen long years passed before another Irish winner, with O’Brien’s Rekindling leading an Irish 1-2-3 in 2017 and he struck gold again with Twilight Payment in 2020.

There is barely a jumps prize Willie Mullins has not won but with Vauban heading the betting here, it seems like a golden opportunity to add his name to the winners list of one of the world's most prestigious Flat races. 

“Vauban is very good,” said Danny Mullins. “Last year, he probably only got started around Christmas and ran some fine races against the likes of State Man and Constitution Hill.

“He was a very good juvenile and competed well in open classes in the champion hurdle division.

“I think he's a fine, stronger horse going back onto the flat now, which has probably left him quite well handicapped and open to more improvement.

“Hopefully that improvement can be brought through on the day in Melbourne.”

Stablemate Absurde is also set for the two-mile spectacular, and though less fancied, Danny Mullins is backing him to challenge the leaders.

“He's got a nice lightweight as well,” he said.

“To watch him coming down the straight at York (in August's Ebor Handicap), you thought he was flat to the board and he just grinds it out and grinds it out.

“So he's very tough. I think he’s another one that had a stint hurdling as most of Willie's do and when they go back on the flat after that, they just seem to find that extra improvement.”

This year’s race begins at 4am (GMT) on Tuesday, with the all-important barrier draw taking place on Saturday.

Irish trained winners at the Melbourne Cup

2020 – Twilight Payment: Joseph O’Brien; Jye McNeil

2017 – Rekindling: Joseph O’Brien; Corey Brown

2002 – Media Puzzle: Dermot Weld; Damien Oliver

1993 – Vintage Crop: Dermot Weld; Michael Kinane