A divine blessing and a leisurely gallop on Monday completed the most elaborate Irish Melbourne Cup preparation that has ever been mounted.

Yeats, the champion stayer of Europe and the first Cup runner for the stable that is currently the strongest in the world, is expected to challenge for favouritism for Tuesday's $5 million race.

The horse has enjoyed a trouble-free three weeks getting ready in Melbourne under the guidance of Kieren Fallon, the champion jockey of Ireland and England.

He has trained well, he has been in spectacular good health and he's happy.

"There's nothing I would have changed, nothing I could have asked for that he hasn't had," Fallon said.

"We're ready to go and run our race."

Yeats and the team from trainer Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable and the Coolmore Stud will be attempting to repeat the deeds of their countryman Dermot Weld when they step out at Flemington on Tuesday.

Weld has won the Cup twice and is largely responsible for the rejuvenation of Australia's greatest race thanks to his carefully chosen and immaculately prepared horses Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle.

Weld's horses have started eight times in the Cup, but none has had a preparation on the same scale as Yeats.

Where Weld sent his horses to Australia with a lad to look after them, Yeats arrived with two handlers, a vet, a security man, an assistant trainer - and Fallon.

The entourage has since grown to include people who make the jockey cups of tea with five sugars, the sons of his owners, the wife of his breeder and a priest.

At Sandown , Yeats completed his final piece of work, a 1600m canter, in smooth and easy style.

He then had a walk, a play in his sand pit and a brush.

By which time he was ready to be blessed.

A man of God referred to only as Father Dan wished the horse all good fortune and then sought out his jockey.