Melbourne Cup Preview: Who To Look Out For In The Race That Stops The Nation

The race that stops the nation is only days away and with so many top stayers, we thought we’d bring you our guide and selections for the Melbourne Cup.

1. Best Solution

• Trainer: S Bin Suroor
• Jockey: P Cosgrove
• Barrier: 6
• Odds: $13     BET NOW

European raider who just held on to win the Caufield Cup and escaped a weight penalty. Extra 800m looks the genuine query here and happy to risk.

2. The Cliffsofmoher

• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Jockey: R Moore
• Barrier: 9
• Odds: $16     BET NOW

Finished 4th in the Caufield Stakes before running third in the Caufield Cup. Hasn’t won beyond 2100m but does have one of the world’s best hoops aboard. A contender.

3. Magic Circle

• Trainer: I Williams
• Jockey: C Brown
• Barrier: 17
• Odds: $8     BET NOW

Coming off back to back wins at Chester and Sandown Park over 3700m and 3200m. C Brown has a terrific Cup record. Looks the likely type.

4. Chestnut Coat

• Trainer: Y Yahagi
• Jockey: Y Kawada
• Barrier: 4
• Odds: $34     BET NOW

Japanese import who never got into the race finishing 13th in the Melbourne Cup. No thanks.

5. Muntahaa

• Trainer: J Gosden
• Jockey: J Crowley
• Barrier: 13
• Odds: $11     BET NOW

Very impressive winner at York last start. Would prefer this grey to have had an Australian start leading into this but looks capable.

6. Sound Check

• Trainer: M Moroney
• Jockey: J Childs
• Barrier: 16
• Odds: $34     BET NOW

Not up to them finishing 12th in the Caufield Cup and hard to see him improving enough here.

7. Who Shot Thebarman

• Trainer: C Waller
• Jockey: B Melham
• Barrier: 18
• Odds: $41     BET NOW

Grand old 10yo having his 4th go at the Cup and will likely be his last start. Finished 4th in the Mooney Valley Gold Cup last night but it would be an unlikely fairytale.

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8. Ace High

• Trainer: D Payne
• Jockey: T Angland
• Barrier: 22
• Odds: $67     BET NOW

Won the Victoria Derby last year and had been competitive in Sydney lead up races before a disappointing 15th in the Caufield Cup last start. If you’re willing to forgive that run he offers great value at $81.

9. Marmelo

• Trainer: H Morrison
• Jockey: H Bowman
• Barrier: 10
• Odds: $16     BET NOW

Beaten favourite in this race last start. Has shown he has improved since last year in recent European form. Has H Bowman on board. Serious contender.

10. Avillius

• Trainer: J Cummings
• Jockey: G Schofield
• Barrier: 11
• Odds: $13     BET NOW

Won 4 on the trot after winning the Bart Cummings before running home strongly to finish 4th behind Winx in the Cox Plate. Comes right back down in the weights with 54.5 and looks one of the main hopes.

11. Yucatan

• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Jockey: J McDonald
• Barrier: 23
• Odds: $6     BET NOW

European import that couldn’t have been more impressive in his first Australian start taking out the Herbert Power Stakes eased down on the line. Deserved favourite.

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12. Auvray

• Trainer: R Freedman
• Jockey: T Berry
• Barrier: 1
• Odds: $81     BET NOW

Sydney form hasn’t been strong enough to match it in this company. Will need to improve dramatically on 6th in ATC St Leger Stakes at Randwick last start.

13. Finche

• Trainer: C Waller
• Jockey: Z Purton
• Barrier: 15
• Odds: $26     BET NOW

Got back and ran on nicely despite being 4-5 wide throughout in the Geelong Cup. Extra distance suits and looks an outside chance.

14. Red Cardinal

• Trainer: D Weir
• Jockey: D Oliver
• Barrier: 5
• Odds: $41     BET NOW

Finished 11th in Mooney Valley Cup and would need to grow a leg to keep up with these.

15. Vengeur Masque

• Trainer: M Moroney
• Jockey: P Moloney
• Barrier: 2
• Odds: $61     BET NOW

Happy to risk after finishing 9th and appeared to not run out a strong 2400m in the Caufield Cup.

16. Ventura Storm

• Trainer: Hayes & Dabernig
• Jockey: M Zahra
• Barrier: 7
• Odds: $26     BET NOW

Got too far back and ran on nicely in a 10th placing in the Caufield Cup in a run that was better than it looked on paper. Franked that effort winning the Mooney Valley Cup last start. One of the best roughies.

17. A Prince of Arran

• Trainer: C Fellowes
• Jockey: M Walker
• Barrier: 20
• Odds: $17     BET NOW

Ran home strongly for an eye catching 3rd in the Herbert Power Stakes before winning the Lees last start. Serious contender.

18. Nakeeta

• Trainer: I Jardine
• Jockey: R Bayliss
• Barrier: 3
• Odds: $81     BET NOW

Only beat two home in the Mooney Valley Cup last start. Not good enough.

19. Sir Charles Road

• Trainer: O’Sullivan & Scott
• Jockey: D Dunn
• Barrier: 14
• Odds: $101     BET NOW

Ran last in Coongy Cup before 3rd in the Bendigo Cup. May get lapped.

20. Zacada

• Trainer: Baker & Forsman
• Jockey: D Lane
• Barrier: 24
• Odds: $126     BET NOW

Has barely passed a horse in his past few Melbourne starts. Pass.

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21. Runaway

• Trainer: Waterhouse & Bott
• Jockey: S Baster
• Barrier: 12
• Odds: $34     BET NOW

Waterhouse runner who qualified for this with an impressive win in the Geelong Cup. Will make his own luck on the speed and could run a bold race.

22. Youngstar

• Trainer: C Waller
• Jockey: C Williams
• Barrier: 8
• Odds: $16     BET NOW

Ran an impressive second behind Winx in the Turnbull Stakes before getting back and ran home strongly for a 7th in the Caufield Cup.

23. Cross Counter

• Trainer: C Appleby
• Jockey: K McEvoy
• Barrier: 19
• Odds: $9.50     BET NOW

English galloper that finished second at York last start. Distance looks a genuine query as he has not won past 2400m.

24. Rostropovich

• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Jockey: W Lordan
• Barrier: 21
• Odds: $26    BET NOW

Ran 5th in the Cox Plate in first Australian start. Prefer others.