The Melbourne Cup and Frankie Dettori have had a love-hate relationship over the years, but the leading hoop believes he may never have a better chance to win ‘the race that stops a nation’ than when he rides Almandin at Flemington tomorrow.

Dettori arrived in Melbourne this morning and he will be having his 15^th ride in the Melbourne Cup after he first contested the race when he partnered Drum Taps in the 1993 edition of the race.

He finished second on Central Park in 1999 and Max Dynamite in 2015, but he has often been criticised for his rides in the Melbourne Cup and was attacked on social media after he set Wicklow Brave a tough task in the race 12 months ago.

Dettori only received the chance to ride Almandin when Damien Oliver was suspended for his ride on Happy Clapper in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and he is hoping that Oliver’s misfortune can finally deliver him a long-awaited win in the Melbourne Cup.

“The horse has won it before and we know that he stays two miles,” Dettori told Ladbrokes.

“He is a very exciting ride to have.

“Mr Williams was quick on the phone to let me know that if Damien didn’t win the appeal that I would get the ride.

“To me the Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest races in the world that I haven’t won and it would mean a lot to break this hoodoo.”

Dettori has never previously ridden for Lloyd Williams in the Melbourne Cup, but he revealed this afternoon that he has a very close relationship with the Leviathan owner and he said he would love nothing more than to deliver him another Melbourne Cup.

“I came here in 1993 and he took me under his wing, we have been friends ever since,” Williams said.

“I rode Order Of St George in the Arc and we were third, which was a great honour.

“I hope I can have a clean race, give the horse every possible chance and hope for the best.”

Almandin is currently available at 2017 Melbourne Cup odds of $7.50 and he is on the second line of betting with Ladbrokes behind Marmelo ($7.50).

Frankie Dettori’s Melbourne Cup Rides

1993 – 9^th on Drum Taps

1995 – 10^th on Bullwinkle

1997 – 6^th on Arabian Story

1998 – 7^th on Faithful Son

1999 – 2^nd on Central Park

2000 – 17^th on Lightning Arrow

2001 – 7^th on Marienbard

2002 – 18^th on Pugin

2003 – Last on Mamool

2004 – 7^th on Mamool

2006 – 18^th on Geordieland

2010 – 6^th on Holberg

2012 – 12^th on Cavalryman

2015 – 2^nd on Max Dynamite (suspended for 1 month0

2016 – 22^nd on Wicklow Brave