Melbourne Cup Racing Tips - Local contender to surprise at $31 in the Melbourne Cup

A capacity field of 24 Melbourne Cup runners will tackle the famous two-mile journey, with Ciaron Maher saddling up seven runners, while Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien has five representatives as he chases a third Melbourne Cup victory after winning with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.

There are a few familiar faces attempting to create history, including 2024 winner Knight's Choice, who reunites with Robbie Dolan, while Vauban lines up for his fourth attempt at the race. Mark Zahra is chasing a third Melbourne Cup victory aboard Middle Earth, having won consecutive editions in 2022 and 2023, while Jamie Melham will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after partnering Half Yours to victory last year. They are among some of the previously successful Melbourne Cup Jockeys in action in the 2026 edition. 

Point Of Law heads the betting following an impressive victory in the Geelong Cup (2400m) at his Australian debut. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper was having just his fifth career start and recorded a figure 5.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark, with Ethan Brown retaining the ride. The lightly raced four-year-old carries just 53kg and draws ideally in barrier nine, but will need to produce another improvement stepping up to the 3200m for the first time.

Middle Earth is one of the more interesting runners on benchmark figures, despite finishing eighth in the Cox Plate (2040m) last time. The seven-year-old was scrubbed along in a strongly run race at Moonee Valley before sticking on to finish seven lengths from the winner, recording a figure 12.6 lengths faster than standard, the best last-start figure of the locally raced runners. He was third in last year's Melbourne Cup and returns to the 3200m for the first time since, although he rises 2kg to 56.5kg. The son of Roaring Lion has previously produced a figure around 17 lengths faster than standard in the Australian Cup (2000m), one of the better performances of any runner in this field.

Shockletz is another of the Maher runners who looks well placed with just 51kg. The mare secured her spot in the field with victory in the Archer Stakes (2500m), recording a figure around 15 lengths faster than standard after producing some excellent late sectionals in a strongly run race. She has since finished runner-up in the Tesio Stakes (2040m) and looks capable of peaking over the longer journey, although barrier 17 means she will need some luck in running.

Juja Kibo has been one of the form horses of the spring, winning The Metropolitan (2400m) before backing up with victory in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Flemington. Both performances were around seven lengths faster than standard benchmark, and while he is racing well, he will need to improve again to match some of the stronger figures in this race. So You Are is another who comes into the Cup in excellent form, having won four consecutive races, including the Bendigo Cup (2400m). The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper recorded a figure approximately five lengths faster than standard last time, but has continued to find a way to win and should be prominent throughout.

Zakouma is another lightweight runner worth respecting, with the Grahame Begg-trained galloper having secured his place in the field with victory in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) earlier this year. That performance was around 14 lengths faster than standard benchmark, and while his recent form has been below his best, his last-start effort over the unsuitable 1600m was clearly a stepping stone towards this race. He comes into the Melbourne Cup fifth-up, the same stage of his preparation as his Andrew Ramsden victory, and carries just 52kg with William Pike aboard.

The internationals add plenty of intrigue, particularly the Joseph O'Brien-trained Trustyourinstinct, who won the Curragh Cup (2816m) before finishing fourth in the Irish St Leger (2816m), and Sons And Lovers, who has been a model of consistency in Europe. Goodie Two Shoes was runner-up in last year's Melbourne Cup and returns after winning the Lillie Langtry Stakes (2816m) at Goodwood, while Hopewell Rock has a progressive profile after finishing runner-up in the Ebor Handicap (2786m) at York. James J Braddock brings English Derby form into the race, while Enfjaar has already shown he can measure up against the locals after finishing third in the Caulfield Cup (2400m). With several strong international contenders and a host of locally trained stayers capable of producing excellent benchmark figures, the 2026 Melbourne Cup shapes as a fascinating contest.

The Melbourne Cup is scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday, November 3, and is Race 7 of the 10-race programme at Flemington.

There looks to be a reasonable amount of early speed, with Wine Dark Sea, Kizlyar and Enfjaar among those capable of rolling forward, while Point Of Law and So You Are should also settle in the leading division. Royal Supremacy is another who can press forward from barrier 21, while Future History and Juja Kibo look likely to settle just behind the speed. The early stages will be interesting, particularly with several on-speed runners drawn wide, and there is enough pressure on paper to suggest a genuine tempo.

Middle Earth draws barrier one but has been slow to begin in recent starts and could find himself buried back on the fence, with Mark Zahra needing the gaps to open at the right time. Shockletz is another who is likely to settle in the second half of the field from barrier 17, while Zakouma and Trustyourinstinct are expected to be ridden quietly before producing their runs late. Point Of Law looks particularly well placed from barrier nine and should get every opportunity, while So You Are can enjoy a favourable run from barrier seven. A genuinely run race should suit the stronger stayers, particularly those capable of sustaining their runs over the final 800m.

Going with Zakouma at double-figure odds in the Melbourne Cup. The Grahame Begg-trained galloper has been flying under the radar this spring, but his victory in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) back in May is a strong form reference for this. He was fifth-up on that occasion and produced a peak performance in a genuinely run race, recording a figure more than 14 lengths faster than standard benchmark while carrying 58.5kg. He drops to just 52kg for the Melbourne Cup and comes into this at the same stage of his preparation, having done enough when fifth in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) two starts ago. Interestingly, connections then opted for a run over the unsuitable 1600m as a final tune-up, something reminiscent of James Cummings' preparation with Zardozi in 2024, when she contested the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) before finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup. It is a method that the legendary Bart Cummings regularly employed with his Cup runners, and Zakouma looks to have been set for this race for some time. William Pike rides from barrier 10, and if he can reproduce his Andrew Ramsden performance, he will be right in the finish.

Middle Earth is the pick of the locally raced runners on benchmark figures and looks a major player in the Melbourne Cup. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper finished eighth in the Cox Plate (2040m) last time, but that performance was much better than it reads on paper, recording a figure 12.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark in a strongly run race. He was scrubbed along early, produced the fastest 800m-to-600m sectional and kept sticking on to finish seven lengths from the winner, with that performance rating well above the other local lead-up races. The seven-year-old has followed an almost identical preparation to last year, when he finished third in the Melbourne Cup, and returns to the 3200m for the first time since. Fiorente showed that a horse can return and improve on a previous Cup placing when going from runner-up in 2012 to winner in 2013. Middle Earth has previously produced a figure around 17 lengths faster than standard in the Australian Cup (2000m), one of the best performances of any runner in this field. He rises 2kg to 56.5kg and draws barrier one, which are the obvious concerns, but Mark Zahra knows him well and he looks capable of producing a peak performance.

Shockletz is another of the Ciaron Maher runners who looks well placed in the Melbourne Cup. The daughter of Shocking secured her spot in the field with victory in the Archer Stakes (2500m) back in September, producing some excellent late sectionals in a genuinely run race and recording a figure around 15 lengths faster than standard benchmark. She has since finished runner-up in the Tesio Stakes (2040m) and looks to be building towards a peak performance over the longer journey. The five-year-old carries just 51kg, a significant advantage over several of the leading chances, and should appreciate a genuine tempo. She will need some luck from barrier 17, but has the closing speed to make her presence felt at the business end.

James J Braddock looks an interesting value play in the Melbourne Cup, despite drawing the outside barrier. The Joseph O'Brien-trained galloper fits the proven formula of bringing well-performed Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds to Australia, with Rekindling winning in 2017, Cross Counter following in 2018, Il Paradiso finishing third in 2019 and Tiger Moth runner-up in 2020. The lightly raced son of Zarak finished third in the English Derby (2420m) earlier this year and was subsequently gelded before returning with a sixth in the Kilternan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown, finishing just 1.5 lengths behind stablemate Sons And Lovers. He was strong through the line on that occasion and looks capable of improving again stepping up to the 3200m for the first time. Craig Williams takes the ride and the four-year-old carries just 53.5kg, while Joseph O'Brien has already demonstrated his ability to prepare this type of horse for the race. Barrier 24 is far from ideal and he will likely settle towards the rear, but if the tempo is genuine and Williams can get him into clear running, he is capable of featuring at attractive odds.