There’s always plenty of value in Melbourne Cup betting and that is certainly the case again in 2018, with one of the most open fields since the turn of the century set to step out at Flemington on Tuesday afternoon.
Finding the Melbourne Cup winner is difficult, but it can also prove to be one of the more lucrative betting plays throughout the entire Spring Carnival.
You can take advantage of a Melbourne Cup Top 5 option here at Neds, that pays out if your horse finishes anywhere in the first five.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Yucatan has remained the clear favourite in 2018 Melbourne Cup betting since recording a bullish win in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) three weeks ago and he is the $1.60 favourite to finish in the Top 5 in this market.
The Galileo entire has recorded three wins and a further six minors through his thirteen career starts to date and won the Group 3 Volvo International Stakes (2011m) at the Curragh in July before finishing a credible third in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) in August.
The way that he toyed with his rivals in the Herbert Power and savaged the line suggested that he’ll get the two miles on Tuesday and he is a live chance of being crowned the Melbourne Cup winner.
Melbourne Cup betting certainly suggests that it’s a year for the internationals and the next two lines of the Top 5 market are occupied by Magic Circle ($2) and Cross Counter ($2.30)
Magic Circle has enjoyed a successful racing career to date and his form over two miles is second to nothing in the 2018 Melbourne Cup field.
The Makfi gelding resumed this year for an easy win in the Chester Cup (3749m) before another dominant display to win the Group 3 Henry VII Stakes (3264m) at Sandown Park by more than six lengths.
He has reportedly relished his time since arriving in Australia and with even luck, he will be extremely difficult to beat in the Melbourne Cup.
Cross Counter has only had seven career starts since debuting in December last year, but he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence and wouldn’t look out of place in the Melbourne Cup winner’s stall.
The Teofilo gelding recorded consecutive wins in the Woodford Reserve Handicap (2405m) and Group 3 Gordon Stakes (2412m) through July and August, and was last seen finishing off well to place second behind Old Persian in the Group 3 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2385m) at York.
Charlie Appleby’s horses have been flying in Australia and Cross Counter looms as a live chance of continuing that record in the Race That Stops a Nation.
Avilius ($2.70) is the first pick of the Australian-trained runners in the 2018 Melbourne Cup field here, while there’s plenty of value around horses like Youngstar ($3.10) and Ventura Storm ($5).
Tip: Back Magic Circle to Finish in the Melbourne Cup Top 5 ($2)