After a failed Group 1 run at Randwick last month, Tony McEvoy’s European import Le Roi drops right down in class for their shot at the 2014 Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville this weekend.

The Areion stallion is one of a bumper 16 final acceptors making up the field for Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Mittys Port Adelaide Cup (2500m), set to run as The Goodwood Day Race 4.

They head the weights too with a hefty 60kg allocation, Luke Nolen to ride from barrier 11.

Le Roi started their career in Europe with one successful run in before being bought over to Australia where they had their opening four runs in Adelaide during 2012 for two wins.

Their best run to date since racing in Australia was their Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m) win in Sydney that year.

After an eighth behind Fiveandahalfstar in last year’s Group 1 The BMW at Rosehill they spent just under a year on the sidelines before coming back with a Back Type third at Morphettville in early March.

They won their next start at Moonee Valley before going up against a Group 1 field again to run ninth, beaten a big 14 lengths, behind It’s A Dundeel in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 19.

While nothing is wrong with the galloper, McEvoy now sees they aren’t up to that class and is hoping for a better result against an easier field this weekend.

The bookies agree and have Le Roi sitting top of the Port Adelaide Cup odds at a quote of $3.50.

There are four other single figure chances in Port Adelaide Cup betting currently with:

• #4 Shiny Buttons ([link text=”$4.80″]) – Darren Weir’s Reset seven-year-old needs to stay out of trouble from the inside alley in this big field but if they do that are a big chance, won the Warrnambool Handicap by a bit four and a half lengths two back before their fourth to Akzar in the Warrnambool Cup going up to 2350m last start, were beaten nine lengths that day but that was on a Heavy (10) and now they’ve run the distance can improve
• #2 Escado ($5) – Good gate three draw for the 58kg second top weight who will be ridden by the returning Ben Melham, Melham having ridden three Group 1 winners in Adelaide last carnival, Matt Laurie’s Casino Prince four-year-old looking for their first win since last year’s Group 1 SA Derby here when ridden by Melham
• #6 Mujadale ($6.50) – Stawell-trained six-year-old has been thereabouts in their three runs this time in, most recently running third to Tooleybuck Kid in the William Buck Plate at Caulfield last weekend, a race Escado was runner-up in over the 2000m
• #8 Dylanson ($7.50) – Phillip Stokes-trained local won at the track first-up before a sixth at Cauflield and then a return home when narrow second to Ominous over the 2000m at Morphettville two weeks back, a fortnight between runs looks ideal

Check out the full Port Adelaide Cup 2014 field, barriers and fixed win prices in the table below.

Then to get in on the Adelaide racing and betting action of the weekend, visit our preferred online betting agency Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on your winnings for The Goodwood there this Saturday!

2014 Port Adelaide Cup Field, Barriers & Odds