Profound Beauty has been a heavily backed firmer in the Melbourne Cup but Irish trainer Dermot Weld typically played down her chances in Tuesday's $5.5 million race.Weld, the only European trainer to win the race which he did with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), said the Danehill mare had travelled over well from Ireland but there was a doubt about her at 3200 metres on her breeding and the Cup would be a challenge."If she can go the two miles is the unknown factor," Weld said."She'

Profound Beauty has been a heavily backed firmer in the Melbourne Cup but Irish trainer Dermot Weld typically played down her chances in Tuesday's $5.5 million race.

Weld, the only European trainer to win the race which he did with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), said the Danehill mare had travelled over well from Ireland but there was a doubt about her at 3200 metres on her breeding and the Cup would be a challenge.

"If she can go the two miles is the unknown factor," Weld said.

"She's not really bred to stay but she's relaxed and we're hopeful.

Profound Beauty has won three of her 10 starts up to 2816m, that being by 4-1/2 lengths in the Listed Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown two starts back in July.

On what Weld described as firm ground she set a track record.

At her latest appearance she ran third on a heavy track in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes (2414m), also at Leopardstown, in August.

"It's probably a year too soon to be honest," Weld said.

"I hadn't really thought about it because next year was going to be her year that we were going to be bringing her, but you take what you get. Her weight (51.5kg) was encouraging and we'll take our chances."

After pulling a shoe off early in her quarantine period at Sandown, Profound Beauty has pleased her handlers and the trainer who arrived in Melbourne in time to see her work on Sunday morning.

"I'm very happy with her and I expect her to run a good race, but think Septimus and Mad Rush, the first and second favourites are going to be very hard to beat," he said.

Apart from her light weight, the good barrier draw (two) and jockey Glen Boss are other factors in her favour.

"I saw enough of Glen Boss the year that he beat Vinnie Roe (on Makybe Diva in 2004) because I thought Vinnie Roe was the best horse I brought down here and he would be very hard to beat," Weld said.

"But Glen got up on the inside and the rest is history. Experience is very important because in many ways Profound Beauty is inexperienced and this is quite a big challenge for her.

Boss, chasing his fourth Cup after his treble on the great mare Makybe Diva, said his first impression of Profound Beauty she was a lovely, big strong mare with a lovely, efficient action.

"She feels like a relaxed type. Her work on Friday was very strong and she gave me a good feel. Up to winning a Melbourne Cup? I'll tell you after the race but I wouldn't swap her at this stage," he said.

"She feels really brilliant to me, she felt like a mile and a half horse (with) a really brilliant turn of foot.

"Sometimes that can work for you, sometimes against you."

TAB Sportsbet spokesman Gary Davies said Profound Beauty had been backed from $17 in to $9, with some of the bigger bets being $5,000 each way at $17; $4,000 at $16 and $20,000 at $12.

Mad Rush ($5) displaced Septimus ($5.50) as favourite with reports from Coolmore Septimus would not start if the ground was too firm.