THE Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa remains favourite for the Melbourne Cup and there is also an Irish connection to the second favourite, Half Yours.

Winner of the Caulfield Cup last weekend (see page 31), Half Yours is trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Their assistant trainer is Fionnan (Finn) McCarthy from Fedamore in Co Limerick and he is in charge of the team’s Melbourne Carnival string.