Melbourne Cup 

All-in odds for the Melbourne Cup are released straight after the prior running. The popularity of betting on the Melbourne Cup is so high that markets are released almost instantaneously.

 

The Melbourne Cup winner is typically installed as the new favourite.

Bookmakers go above and beyond when it comes to offering Melbourne Cup deals. There are many different bookie offers supplied by bookmakers in the days leading up to the Melbourne Cup. 

All the major bookmakers will have Melbourne Cup offers available for the big race this November.

The Melbourne Cup has a long history and since its first running in 1861, the past champions include the likes of Phar Lap, Makybe Diva and many other national heroes. 

Frederick Standish was credited with the idea of the Melbourne Cup. 17 horses contested the first Melbourne Cup and it was a winner take all system. Archer was the first Melbourne Cup winner and it was marred with controversy as three horses fell during the race. 

It was since become a much more professional race and horses are set for the Melbourne Cup years in advance. One horse that captured the hearts of Australian punters was Makybe Diva, who scored an incredible three consecutive Melbourne Cup wins from 2003-2005. 

The Champion stayer, with Glen Boss in the saddle, was the horse that banded punters from around the country. Despite the Melbourne Cup being a tough betting race, punters swarmed to back Maykbe Diva and rightfully so. 

Times have changed with the Melbourne Cup field. It is mostly filled with international runners that many punters don’t know the form around. This is seen as a positive for the Melbourne Cup but a negative for Australian and New Zealand staying ranks. 

Now, because of the Melbourne Cup’s changing dynamic, trainers are buying horses from overseas in the hopes of training a Melbourne Cup winner. 

The Melbourne Cup field is confirmed on the Saturday night prior to the race. This is due to some qualifying races behind held on that Saturday. 

The barrier draw and field reveal is one of the highlights of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. 

Form from Australia and New Zealand used to be a good guide for the Melbourne Cup but it has shifted in the Europeans favour. 

Punters should look to the European runners which are either unraced in Australia or have had only one start. Gone are the days where form throughout the year in Australia will be good enough to win the Melbourne Cup. 

It’s targeted by the second-tier staying thoroughbreds in Europe and they have had great success in doing so. Many punters bet too early in the Melbourne Cup markets and form out of Sydney in the autumn just doesn’t stack up well enough. 

Wait until the field starts to take shape and ignore most of the local form. Look for the younger European types which get into the race with no weight and you’ll be a happy punter. 

Punters can watch the Melbourne Cup at Beteasy, which has two channels to live stream every race in Australia and the feature races in New Zealand. 

The race replay of the 2018 Melbourne Cup shows Cross Counter coming with a strong run on the outside of the field. 

The Melbourne Cup day card doesn’t have many great races and all eyes are on the Melbourne Cup itself. 

It’s a 10-race card with the Melbourne Cup running at Race 7.