Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams has locked in riders for his two Melbourne Cup runners.

Owner Lloyd Williams has locked in riders for his two runners in Tuesday week’s $8m Melbourne Cup.

Cleveland, ridden by James McDonald wins the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Friday night. Picture: George Sal–Racing Photos via Getty Images

As Tuesday week’s Melbourne Cup field continues to take shape leviathan owner Lloyd Williams has locked in riders for his two runners in the great race.

Jye McNeil, winner of the Cup in 2020 aboard Twilight Payment for the ownership group led by Williams has been booked to ride the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Serpentine in the $8m ‘race that stops the nation’.

The other runner to wear the Williams blue and white livery will be the Kris Lees-trained Moonee Valley Cup winner Cleveland, who will be handled by last year’s Caulfield Cup winning rider Michael Dee.

* Damien Oliver secures ride in his last Melbourne Cup

Serpentine, the 2020 Epsom Derby winner has raced his way into Melbourne Cup contention in recent starts, the latest finishing third in The Bart Cummings behind Future History and First Immortal and he has been ridden by Ben Melham in his last three starts in Melbourne.

However with Serpentine allotted just 51kg Melham was ruled out of Melbourne Cup contention for the Cup ride on the gelding.

Williams other Cup runner, Cleveland will be ridden by Michael Dee after James McDonald handled the five-year-old in his strong win on Friday night at The Valley.

Cleveland is rated the best chance of the Williams pair at $21 in TAB markets while Serpentine is currently at $51.

Highly regarded raider Vauban is currently $4 Melbourne Cup favourite while Gold Trip sits on the second line at $4.50 as he strives to repeat the heroics of 2022 while Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight is third favourite at $7.

Originally published as Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams has locked in riders for his two Melbourne Cup runners.