The exclusive BetDeluxe runner-by-runner guide for the Melbourne Cup.
Our very own Punter’s Prince has crunched his way through the form to find the winner, value and roughies to play in what is set to be another bumper edition of ‘the race that stops a nation.’
#1 twilight payment
robert hickmott
The 2020 Melbourne cup winner who gets the weight of the best horse in the race.
Will adopt similar tactics to last year but will likely be pestered by a few scoundrels at long odds who will ruin his winning chances.
Odds: $11 the win and $3.5 the place.
Finishing position: Seventh
#2 incentivise
peter moody
The deserved favourite who has crushed rivals in what is an incredible nine-race winning streak.
Has the gate speed to offset the wide barrier and is the clear top pick.
Price might be a bit short but his stamina and will to win are unrivalled in this field.
Odds: $2.70 the win and $1.45 the place.
Finishing position: First
#3 spanish mission
andrew balding
The best international horse in the race. Ran freak stayer Stradivarius to a half head.
His ratings are good enough to win this but the big query is his fitness given he had to undergo three vet checks before being passed fit to run.
Odds: $9 the win and $3 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#4 verry elleegant
chris waller
A near bombproof mare who is as honest as they day is long.
Might not be at her best though having been defeated in both Melbourne runs this campaign.
Map looks ugly as well with J-Mac likely to settle towards the end of the field.
Odds: $15 the win and $4.6 the place.
Finishing position: Ninth
#5 explosive jack
ciaron maher & dave eustace
Wants it wetter and cooler than what is predicted.
Inside barrier harms his chance given he will be nowhere near the leaders and cluttered up inside of runners.
Unlikely to be able to build his momentum as he needs to.
Odds: $31 the win and $7.5 the place.
Finishing position: Fifteenth
#6 the chosen one
murray baker & andrew forsman
Kiwi battler who tries his guts out.
However, he is not good enough to win this.
Odds: $31 the win and $7.5 the place
Finishing position: Twelfth
#7 delphi
anthony & sam freedman
Smashed by Incentivise last start but can improve with a softer run from the barrier.
Damien Oliver sticks with him and that is a big sign that he is ready to run a much better race.
Odds: $19 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Sixth
#8 ocean billy
chris waller
No hope.
Odds: $81 the win and $18 the place.
Finishing position: 23rd
#9 selino
chris waller
Making up the numbers.
Odds: $51 the win and $10 the place
Finishing position: 22nd
#10 johnny get angry
denis pagan
Horribly out of form and only in this race due to automatic qualification following his 2020 Derby win.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: 21st
#11 knights order
gai waterhouse & adrian bott
Pace maker and will probably run last.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: Last
#12 persan
ciaron maher & dave eustace
Middle barrier suits him.
Improved big time in the Caulfield cup but still needs to provide a bigger figure to be competitive here.
Has to find another level.
Odds: $26 the win and $6.5 the place
Finishing position: Eleventh
#13 carif
peter & paul snowden
Familiar colours in this race, but cannot win.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: 20th
#14 master of wine
m, w & j hawkes
We’ll need some wine to get over the shock if he wins.
Odds: $81 the win and $19 the place
Finishing position: Eighteenth
#15 pondus
robert hickmott
Roughie of the race.
Have liked his two runs back in fairly high-pressure races.
Connections have to be respected here with seven-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams in the ownership.
The horse will do no work from barrier two and is great each way value.
Odds: $21 the win and $6 the place
Finishing position: Fourth
#16 grand promenade
ciaron maher & dave eustace
Looks a real two miler and has a very similar mould to what Persan did last year in that he has been up for a long time but just continues to improve every time he steps out to race.
Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride and he knows how to win this race having done three times already.
Odds: $15 the win and $4.6 the place
Finishing position: Third
#17 miami bound
danny o'brien
Needs wet ground which she won’t get.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: Seventeenth
#18 port guillaume
ben & j d hayes
Duck eggs on the form guide and that will continue here.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: Sixteenth
#19 she's ideel
bjorn baker
Ran okay in the Caulfield cup but this a much bigger test.
Odds: $91 the win and $21 the place
Finishing position: Fourteenth
#20 future score
matthew cumani
Needs it easier than this.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place
Finishing position: Nineteenth
#21 tralee rose
symon wilde
Gun staying mare who won the Geelong Cup last start.
The only question mark on her is the dry track.
Prefer her to be racing on a course with a little bit more give in the surface than what we will likely see.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.8 the place
Finishing position: Eighth
#22 floating artist
ciaron maher & dave eustace
Incredibly unlucky last start and could very well have a picket fence of wins if not for some poor rides.
That being said, this is the toughest race he competes in this preparation and will need to elevate at least 3-5 lengths. .
Odds: $13 the win and $4 the place
Finishing position: Tenth
#23 great house
chris waller
Races on the three-day back up after winning his ticket in through the Hotham.
Must respect the connections but is probably outclassed.
Odds: $20 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#24 Sir Lucan
gai waterhouse & adrian bott
A northern hemisphere three-year-old who is owned by Ozzie Kheir.
This profile of horse is what has had great success in the Cup over the last 5-7 years and it would not surprise us if he ran a big race.
Odds: $21 the win and $6 the place
Finishing position: Fifth
