1. SONS AND LOVERS (GB) 57.5kg —— Joseph O’Brien

($19.00) Jockey: Ryan Moore

Big weight makes it hard but arrives as a strong northern chance with a tidy formline, although four of O’Brien’s five haven’t had an Australian lead-up run which doesn't often work our well. Huge task ahead with the inside draw probably the biggest tick. Not sure he can win as the topweight rarely does, but plenty have popped up their heads and claimed he is worthy.

2. TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE) 57kg —— Joseph O’Brien

($7.50) Jockey: James McDonald

He won the Curragh Cup over 2816m in Ireland in July, then ran fourth in the Irish St Leger over the same trip which is really sound lead up form. JMac the big bonus, although he will need to be patient from this wide gate and work their way into the finish gradually. Best northern hope in our opinion and a serious winning prospect with the right run in transit.

3. KNIGHT’S CHOICE 56.5kg —— John Symons/ Sheila Laxon

($41.00) Jockey: Robbie Dolan

This just looks a task too large for the 2024 upset Cup winner who went better when 3rd in the Herbert Power (2400m) at Caulfield but got well out of his ground in the Caulfield Cup and just not gonig well enough to be considered a serious contender. A repeat upset seems unlikely at the weights.

4. MIDDLE EARTH (GB) 56.5kg —— Ciaron Maher

($16.00) Jockey: Mark Zahra

Plenty of money has come for MIDDLE EARTH who has supreme staying experience and ran 3rd in this last year which was a strong effort. Maher thinks he's ready to run the race of his career from barrier (1) but he won't want to get bogged down too far back. Mark Zahra knows him well and how to win the cup. Serious win hope at sound odds.

5. VAUBAN (FR) 56.5kg —- Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott

($51.00) Jockey: Jordan Childs

Really should have won it by now and we have tipped him out in the past, although not getting any younger and it looks just too bigger a task - knows how to stay though and can run on but drawn the carpark and probably not winning this year either.

6. ENFJAAR (IRE) 56kg —— Roger Varian

($23.00) Jockey: Ray Dawson

ENFJAAR is an Irish-bred international trained by Newmarket-based English trainer Roger Varian. Won the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, controlling the race from the front to take a career-best victory. Travelled to Australia and ran an exceptional race to finish 3rd in a dramatic edition Caulfield Cup. Not out of this and this is a near perfect gate. We do have a soft spot for the horse and have him in our numbers.

7. ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) 56kg —— Ciaron Maher

($51.00) Jockey: Ben Allen

ROYAL SUPREMACY is a highly successful gelding trained by leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher. Possibly one of the early pacemakers as strong front-running type, but this is as tough as it gets and likely to be run down from the turn. Don't hate him to place though as pretty talented but may not have much left in the tank by the time they get to the clocktower.

8. WINE DARK SEA (GB) 56kg —— Harry Charlton

($41.00) Jockey: Damien Lane

Showed explosive staying potential with a dominant 13-length victory over 2200m. Made his Australian debut under star jockey Damian Lanevin the Caulfield Cup, finishing 11th over 2400m, so has a significant amount to find but will be fitter for the experience. Really can't see him winning though and big odds say it all. Not for us.

9. ASTERIX (NZ) 55kg —— Chris Waller

($61.00) Jockey: Jye McNeil

Absolutely no love for the former Kiwi stayer who Chris Waller has managed to get the occasional big run out of but few will be parting with their money on this TAVISTOCK gelding. Didn't like the wet track in the Turnbull and only just avoided the fall in the Caulfield Cup, so as an extreme roughie, we don't hate him. Is a NZ Derby winner and may be running on late.

10. GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) 55kg —— Joseph O’Brien

($26.00) Jockey: Wayne Lordan

GOODIE TWO SHOES was second in the Melbourne Cup last November and a return to Australia was locked in following the Group Two triumph in the Lillie Lantry at Goodwood. Really hard to know what to make of him this time as he has only raced four times since then, but you just know O'Brien will have him at peak again. May need a ton of luck in the running.

11. JUJA KIBO (IRE) 55kg —— Ciaron Maher

($15.00) Jockey: Sam Clipperton

JUJA KIBO has received a 1.5kg penalty for the Cup following his impressive victory in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington. A winner of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Oct 3, Juja Kibo produced a powerful finish thst day as well. Capable of hitting the line with determination and that has him right in this contest. Possibly could be lacking the class but hard to knock recent form.

12. HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE) 54.5kg —— George Boughey

($9.00) Jockey: Zac Lloyd

UK raider Hopewell Rock has the "right credentials" to open his account in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. The Ebor Handicap runner-up won the Class 2 Handicap at Goodwood in August ridden by Ryan Moore, with previous wins at Bath and Newbury. Has promised plenty and the big field won't intimidate but was considered as a future hurdler. Has come in significantly in the market and he is weighted to win it

13. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) 54.5kg ——Tim Fitzsimmons

($61.00) Jockey: Declan Bates

Stunning effort to win the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last year and qualify for the 2025 Cup, but the now eight-year-old Dial In gelding peaked at the 300m and had nothing more to give. Lightly raced since then and has yet to produce anything of substance to suggest he can threaten here. Only six wins in 50 starts and hard to see number seven coming up in this

14. SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE) 54.5kg —— Chris Waller

($51.00) Jockey: Tommy Berry

SOUL OF SPAIN has been left wanting a bit following a tidy third in the Kingston Town at Randwick, with the Metropolitan a disappointing result. Over-raced badly in the rough run Caulfield Cup and forced to come four-wide sticking on for an eighth placed finish. Bold 2nd in the Sydney Cup (3200m) behind CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD. Would need to run up to that high level at the very least but not for us.

15. ZAHRANN (IRE) 54.5kg —— Ciaron Maher

($31.00) Jockey: Ben Melham

ZAHRANN won the Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield in September. Finished 6th in Caulfield Cup and 11th in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Possibly not the worst as Maher does rate the horse who has been well-prepared, is training along nicely and fundamentally set to peak for the Cup on Tuesday. We like him plenty even at big odds as he is super fit and most importantly, looks the part. Our roughie.

16. SO YOU ARE 54kg —— Bjorn Baker

($11.00) Jockey: Rachel King

SO YOU ARE’s bid for a spot in the Melbourne Cup field was cemented with victory in the Gr.3 Bendigo Cup (2400m). Ridden by Rachel King, So You Are made it four wins in a row. Relaxes well and has got better as a tough stayer at the peak of his powers. Outside chance of fighting his way into it late but this is a massive challenge of the highest order. Odds seems all wrong as $21.00 in our books but he has fans.

17. FUTURE HISTORY —— Gregory Hickman

($51.00) Jockey: Jamie Melham

The Sydney veteran FUTURE HISTORY sneaked into the Cup field following the Japanese horse being withdrawn and the old boy hasn't been going too badly but he would probably need a small miracle to feature as a nine-year-old. Better placed back in Sydney in something a bit easier, but Jamie does get a ride after winning this last year.

18. JAMES J BRADDOCK (IRE) 53.5kg —— Joseph O’Brien

($19.00) Jockey: Craig Williams

James J Braddock has been gelded since finishing third in the Gr.1 Epsom Derby, when he got worked up in the preliminaries, and sixth in the Irish Derby. The connections believe he is ready to run the race of his life and the shrewd Williams in the saddle a bonus. Might be O'Brien's best hope at the weights, but he starts out in the stands and will need luck. Drifted in price due to that fact.

19. KILZYAR (IRE) 53.5kg —— Joseph O’Brien

($41.00) Jockey: Beau Mertens

Don't know enough about this stayer after he only got in following DEFIANTLY's withdrawal by the VRC vets. Apparently, he’s a strong stayer and a typical Aussie middle distance race last time just didn’t play to his strengths. 11th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup but O'Brien thinks the horse is at big overs and just watch out at the weights. Don't think the class is there.

20. POINT OF LAW (GB) 53kg —— Ciaron Maher

($8.00) Jockey: Ethan Brown

POINT OF LAW won the 2026 Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket (GB) and qualified for the Melbourne Cup in winning the 2026 G3 Geelong Cup with a stunning performance. The northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old outstayed his rivals with a tough on pace victory. Previously weighted on the minimum of 51kg, his new Melbourne Cup weight is 53kg. Can absolutely win this if he runs up to that Geelong standard.

21. STRICTLY BUSINESS 53kg —— Thomas Carberry

($67.00) Jockey: Dean Yendall

STRICTLY BUSINESS is trained by Thomas Carberry out of Ballarat and is best known for her spectacular victory in the 2025 Group 1 VRC Oaks (Crown Oaks) at Flemington. Finished second in the Wakeful right before her breakthrough Oaks victory but not for us, not here, not ever.

22. MR MONACO (GB) 52.5kg —— Ciaron Maher

($23.00) Jockey: Jabez Johnstone (a)

MR MONACO controlled the race to win the Bart Cummings (2520m) in October on a Heavy 8 at the Flemington track. If the rain came Tuesday then we may need a rethink to include in our numbers, although even in a wet contest it will be a huge task to finish in the top four or five we believe.

23. ZAKOUMA‍ ‍52kg —— Grahame Begg

($31.00) Jockey: William Pike

The imported Crowded House gelding ZAKOUMA won the Ramsden giving great chase to arrive at the 50m mark. Yet to really finish it off properly in recent runs but on a light weight and may be able to find a bit more. Does have the Wizard of the West in the saddle hot off a Cox Plate win here, so his confidence will be high. Like the trainer but maybe just lacking the X-factor.

24. SHOCKLETZ (NZ) 51kg —— Ciaron Maher

($10.00) Jockey: Harry Coffey

We have been with SHOCKLETZ throughout the last campaign and during this one where the SHOCKING gelding qualified for the Cup by winning the Archer Stakes (2500m). Ran on from well back in the Tesio (2040m) at Flemington, so certainly in sharp condition and down on the minimum. Too often gets bogged in behind other runners but he can pick up quickly with a decent turn-of-hoof. Two miles the big question mark although the light weight says….maybe?

BEST BET: POINT OF LAW

NEXT BEST: HOPEWELL ROCK

VALUE BET: MIDDLE EARTH

WILDCARD: ZAHRANN