Melbourne Cup Tips and Odds

Late autumn each year sees the Victoria race track of Flemington play host to one of the most famous handicap races in the world. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for the renowned Melbourne Cup.

This 2m staying handicap was first run at Flemington back in 1861. Open to runners aged three and older, with more than AU$6 million in total prize money on offer this the richest handicap contest in the world, bar none.

Melbourne Cup Tips and Betting Offers, 4:00, 5th November 2019

The eyes of horse racing fans all around the world were on California on Friday and Saturday for the Breeders’ Cup meeting. After a top class couple of days in Santa Anita attention will turn Down Under on Tuesday for one of the biggest contests in all of racing, the Melbourne Cup.

Rain in Melbourne Makes Things Even More Interesting

The build-up to the Melbourne Cup is always interesting with the best part of £2,500,000 going to the winner of this 2 mile, Group 1 handicap. The race itself is always engrossing and the same can be said about the betting heat. The odds have moved considerably in the weeks leading up to the race but things really got interesting with the recent rainfall in Melbourne moving the ground to good to soft at Flemington.

As with many handicaps, the Melbourne Cup is not a happy hunting ground for favourite backers. The last decade has seen just one favourite get the job done at the same time as winners at 14/1, 19/1 and 100/1. The rain has added an extra level of unpredictability for the 2019 renewal so there is some great value to be had.

Another Three-Year-Old Winner?

There’s a three way battle for favouritism at the head of the Melbourne Cup betting markets. Mer De Glace, Constantinople and Finche have all had their fair share of support from punters but there are reasons to avoid each. Mer De Glace and Constantinople are each untested over this trip and would prefer a firmer surface underfoot whilst Finche may just lack the class required to win a Melbourne Cup despite placing fourth here last year.

It may well pay to avoid the top three and instead look a little further down the market in the search for a Melbourne Cup winner. One of the horses who really stands out at the odds is Il Paradiso at 11/1 with bet365.

The Aidan O’Brien trained colt is looking to become the third straight three-year-old winner of the Melbourne Cup. He’s certainly in the same sort of progressive mould to Cross Counter and Rekindling having looked at home against Group level opposition. He couldn’t quite hang on in the latter stages of the St Leger but is likely to take a step forward for his showing at Doncaster and is well treated with just 8st 4lb to carry.

Mirage Dancer the One for Each Way Money

It’s tough to be confident enough about any of the horses in the field for the Melbourne Cup to have just one bet on the race. This year’s renewal is crying out for a couple of options and when it comes to an each way bet the chances of Mirage Dancer must be respected at a big price.

The five-year-old was a Group 3 winner whilst in Britain under the watchful eye of Sir Michael Stoute and there is no sign of him slowing down just yet. His sole run for new connections was an impressive third place finish in the Caulfield Cup and with few concerns about his ability to step up to 2 miles, he could well spring another Melbourne Cup surprise.

Betting Predictions

This promises to be a particularly entertaining and unpredictable renewal of the Melbourne Cup. There is no doubting the quality of the field with the best of the value represented by Il Paradiso at 11/1 with bet365 and Mirage Dancer at 33/1 with Paddy Power.

Melbourne Cup Previous Winners

  • 2018 – Cross Counter – jockey Kerrin McEvoy, trainer Charlie Appleby
  • 2017 – Rekindling – jockey Corey Brown, trainer JP O’Brien
  • 2016 – Almandin – jockey Kerrin McEvoy, trainer Robert Kickmott
  • 2015 – Prince of Penzance – jockey Michelle Payne, trainer Darren Weir
  • 2014 – Protectionist – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Andreas Wöhler
  • 2013 – Fiorente – jockey Damien Oliver, trainer Gai Waterhouse
  • 2012 – Green Moon – jockey Brett Prebble, trainer Robert Hickmott
  • 2011 – Dunaden – jockey Christophe Lemaire, trainer Mikel Delzangles
  • 2010 – Americain – jockey Gérald Mossé, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre
  • 2009 – Shocking – jockey Corey Brown, trainer Mark Kavanagh
  • 2008 – Viewed – jockey Blake Shinn, trainer Bart Cummings
  • 2007 – Efficient – jockey Michael Rodd, trainer Graeme Rogerson
  • 2006 – Delta Blues – jockey Yasunari Iwata, trainer Katsuhiko Sumii

Melbourne Cup History

First run back in 1861, Australia’s most famous horse race – and one of the most recognised equine contests worldwide, up there with the Grand National and the Ascot Gold Cup – was the brainchild of one Frederick Standish. A lifelong bachelor, Standish was amongst other things the Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police Force and leaves this race as a lasting legacy to his love of horseracing.

The initial prize on offer was a sum of A$710 and a gold watch. With the Melbourne Cup Trophy itself now being worth over A$175,000 and the race offering over A$6.2 million in total prize money, this contest has grown to become the richest handicap and turf race in the World. Only the $10 million Dubai World Cup ranks higher amongst all races.

Being a handicap contest that attracts runners from the worldwide pool of staying handicappers, it takes a pretty special horse to win the race twice. Archer (1861,1862), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), Rain Lover (1968,1969) and Think Big (1974, 1975) therefore deserve special praise for recording famous doubles in the race.

Most remarkable of all though is the Australian mare Makybe Diva. Initially unwanted at the sales Makybe Diva went on to become the first horse to win this race three times (2003,2004, and 2005), earning over A$14 million in her illustrious career.

It was not for nothing that Australian trainer Bart Cummings earned the nickname, the “Cups King”. Something of an Australian legend, Cummings won the Melbourne Cup on a remarkable 12 occasions, more than twice as many times as any other trainer in the history of the race.

Harry White was the man aboard Cummings winners in 1974, 1975 and 1979. Having also ridden George Hanlon’s Arwon to victory in 1978, White’s four wins put him level with Bobby Lewis as the most successful jockey in the biggest handicap race in the world.