Melbourne Cup tips, betting preview, odds, results, and draw bias

The race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous horse race. A Group 1 Handicap, it brings together the best the world has to offer and plenty of British and Irish horses make the journey to try and pillage the prize.

Raced over the two-mile distance, it’s a race that requires guts, determination and a huge amount of class. This year’s winner will receive £2,328,042 and it’s no surprise to see such an incredible field in the offing.

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Melbourne Cup Race Horses

Stratum Albion

Simply known as “Stratum” by British and Irish fans, Willie Mullins is looking for his first Melbourne Cup. This seven-year-old was last seen finishing second in a York Group 2 and brings plenty of class to the contest. The 2019 Cesarewitch winner, he’ll relish this test and it’s no surprise to see him line-up as the favourite.

Tiger Moth

Has raced just four times thus far, making the trip to Australia on the back of a runaway Group 3 victory at Leopardstown. Brings plenty of class to the contest and should relish today’s step up in distance. He’s completely unexposed and looks to be on a handy weight, but he’s been drawn in the car park in stall 23.

Anthony Van Dyck

Won the 2019 Derby and is an experienced globe-trotter, visiting both Hong Kong and America in the same year. Broke a losing sequence when landing a Group 2 at Longchamp prior to his travels, beaten a head in the Caulfield Cup last on Australian debut. Carries the same weight and has an obvious chance under Hugh Bowman.

Sir Dragonet

Smart horse for Aidan O’Brien but never quite lived up to his full potential. Made a winning debut for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace in the Cox Plate last week and he stayed 1m 6f for his previous connections. Has to be included in calculations, with these connections seeming to have rejuvenated him.

Verry Elleegant

Won the Caulfield Cup on her latest outing, defeating Anthony Van Dyck by a head in gutsy fashion. She’s yet to go beyond 1m 4f, but she’s unbeaten in her three tries over that distance. Shapes as though she’ll love this step up in trip and merits respect as a result.

Best of the Rest

The very popular Prince Of Arran finished second in this race twelve months ago and he carries just a pound higher twelve months on. Russian Camelot enters calculations thanks to a third in the Cox Plate, while the consistent Finche will look to better a seventh place finish from twelve months ago.

Melbourne Cup Tips and Odds

Our Melbourne Cup Tip: Surprise Baby

The one who catches the eye for this year’s Melbourne Cup is the locally trained Surprise Baby. Trained by Paul Preusker, he finished fifth in this race twelve months ago, running on extremely well in the closing stages despite a draw in the twenty barrier.

He’s had a pair of runs in preparation for this contest, finishing a narrow second in a Group 2 at Moonee Valley on return. He couldn’t have been anymore luckless behind Verry Elleegant in the Turnball Stakes last time, blocked for a run throughout and finishing full of running.

A return to this longer distance is an obvious positive and he’s been drawn much better in stall 7 for this year’s renewal. He arrives this year arguably better than ever and holds an obvious chance.

Melbourne Cup Draw Bias

The barrier draw has a significant impact on the outcome of the race. It’s a sizeable advantage to be drawn low to middle, with those drawn extremely wide at a big disadvantage.

That has to be a worry for supporters of Tiger Moth, who is drawn in stall 23. For those rooting for the raiding British and Irish runners, Stratum Albion (9), Anthony Van Dyck (3) and Prince Of Arran (1) have all have been drawn well.

Melbourne Cup: Results and Winners

2019 – Vow And Declare (Craig Williams, Danny O’Brien, Stall 21)
2018 – Cross Counter (Kerrin McEvoy, Charlie Appleby, Stall 19)
2017 – Rekindling (Corey Brown, Joseph O’Brien, Stall 4)
2016 – Almandin (Kerrin McEvoy, Robert Hickmott, Stall 17)
2015 – Prince Of Penzance (Michelle Payne, Darren Weir, Stall 1)

Two of the last five winners have been trained in Britain and Ireland, with Vow And Declare narrowly denying a hat-trick for the raiders twelve months ago. Prince Of Penzance proved that the market can get it wrong in 2015, scoring at 100/1 under Michelle Payne.