2026 Melbourne Cup Form, Barrier Draw & Final Field

There are better O’Brien-trained runners in this field, and although we’re not ruling him out of contention, he will need to improve on his recent form. We see him finishing in the first half of the field, but winning will be tough.

Another Joseph O’Brien runner, and this one looks like a much better winning hope. He has form behind some of the best stayers in the world, including Scandinavia, and that is good form for the Melbourne Cup. He should run a big race with James McDonald riding.

It’s never easy to leave out a former Melbourne Cup winner, but this is going to be much harder for him. Having that experience is a good thing, but with 56.5kg on his back, he could struggle to keep up.

His form this season hasn’t looked like a potential Melbourne Cup winner, and that’s why we’re struggling to include him in Melbourne Cup predictions. The current odds are too short for our liking, and although he ran well last year, he’s not the same horse this time around.

He was only fair first-up, and drawing barrier 22 doesn’t help his chances. We can’t see him going well enough to win.

Nothing wrong with his third placing last start, which was his first Australian start. We think he’s going under the radar in betting markets, and although he will need to find 1-2 lengths on that effort, Roger Varian knows how to get them in perfect condition on race day.

He couldn’t muster much last time out, and he needs everything to go his way in front to have a chance of winning. He’ll likely settle handy and be left flat-footed at the top of the straight.

A runner we can see running a good race at nice odds. Not everything went his way last time out, and he’ll improve with that run under his belt. We expect him to finish in the first half of the field.

He showed some ability earlier this preparation, but his last two starts were only fair. The former New Zealand runner needs to be at his best to have a chance, and he’s not running well enough.

Produced a massive effort to finish second last year, and she could repeat that effort. She’s going well enough to figure in the finish, and the odds are good enough to take. Include her in Melbourne Cup tips for a bit of value.

The Metropolitan winner two back, and he backed it up with another quality win last time out. This is another step up in class from those races, but the form has been franked, and he should run a good race.

Having his first start in Australia, and there has been a lot of money for him. That’s a good sign, and he could be good enough to win the Melbourne Cup. Zac Lloyd riding is a bonus, and the young jockey could get the job done.

He isn’t running well enough this season, and the triple-figure odds are warranted. He would need to find 6-7 lengths just to have a chance.

He has the potential to win this race, but he’s not running well enough to back him with any confidence. Chris Waller is a master trainer, so that’s why we can’t rule him out.

He looked good earlier this season, but his last couple of efforts have been only average. He wants it rock-hard, so the conditions should be ideal, but we can’t see him taking out the great race.

He got into the race with a win in the Bendigo Cup last week. He’s stringing wins together, which is a good sign, and there has been early money for him since markets opened. He should run another good race.

He never runs a bad race, but he’s another runner who needs to find a few lengths to win. We can’t see him running well enough.

A European runner with plenty of upside and a light weight. However, he has been given barrier 24, and it’s not easy from out there. He’ll need to do a lot of early work to get cover, but if he gets some luck in running, he could win.

There was good betting support for him in his Australia debut, but it wasn’t a good performance. He’ll need to turn things around, and we can’t see that happening.

A booming winner of the Geelong Cup, which has been a good form guide for many years. That was the most impressive lead-up win to the Melbourne Cup, and that’s why he’s the favourite to win. We expect his odds to firm on race day.

She isn’t running well enough to win this race. Her form has tapered right off this season.

Nothing wrong with his form this preparation, and he could sneak under the radar at nice odds. We wouldn’t be shocked if he won, so include him in exotics.

Only fair form this season, and we can’t see him winning. Having William Pike riding is a bonus, but that’s about the only positive we can find.

Getting 51kg on her back could be enough to take her close. She has been running well this season, and she is being respected in betting markets at $11.