HEADING into today’s racing the eligible Melbourne Cup horses have been whittled down to 34 as the Ismail Mohammed-trained Away He Goes was ruled out of contention with a tendon injury on Wednesday.

That leaves just Twilight Payment and hopefully Spanish Mission as the only northern hemisphere-trained horses that will contest this year’s Cup.

Today’s Hotham Stakes will provide the second last opportunity for runners to gain a ballot free entry, as 34th in the Order of Entry is the Savabeel colt Forgot You, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who is the second favourite for the Victoria Derby. That race also carries a ballot-free entry into the Cup.

PART-owner of Twilight Payment, Nick Williams is right behind the chances of the Teofilo gelding heading into Tuesday’s race.

“In April-May I thought it would be a waste of time even thinking of bringing him back. As the year has gone I’ve really warmed to it and I’ve got to the point now I think he’s as good a chance of winning as any,” said Williams.

“With all due respect, it’s not nearly as good a race as it was last year. It’s a substantially narrower race, and I think the way it’s fallen into place he actually looks attractively weighted in it. It’s a wonderful thing to try and chase a bit of history and try and win something back-to-back.”

Twilight Payment is one of six Irish-bred Cup runners, the other being Delphi, Knights Order, Future Score, Sir Lucan and Great House. Williams rates Spanish Mission (subject to a late veterinary inspection) as his greatest threat, admitting he is struggling to evaluate the favourite Incentivise.

“I’m leaving the favourite out, it might just come out and win by five lengths. I’ve got no idea about it.”