TRAINER Ian Williams' bid to return to Redditch with the Melbourne Cup trophy ended as Magic Circle finished 16th in the famous race after breaking a blood vessel.

The exciting six-year-old, ridden by Australian jockey Corey Brown, was well-backed before the off following heavy rain on the morning of the contest.

His soft-ground form quickly put him in the minds of punters and he went off as the 6/1 second favourite.

However, he eventually finished out of the prize money before a post-race scope discovered he'd broken a blood vessel.

The son of Makfi had booked a date Down Under in one of the world's biggest races after he followed up his Chester Cup success by claiming the group three Henry II Stakes at Sandown earlier this year.

His trainer initially tweeted that Magic Circle had come out of the race okay before later adding: "In a post race scope Magic Circle was found to have broken a blood vessel during today’s Cup. I hope he has a speedy recovery."

Meanwhile, British-trained horses finished in the top three as Cross Counter, trained by Charlie Appleby, bagged victory ahead of Hughie Morrison's Marmelo and third-placed A Prince Of Arran, trained by Charlie Fellowes.