{"id":94818,"date":"2026-11-02T11:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T01:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=94818"},"modified":"2026-11-02T11:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T01:18:10","slug":"melbourne-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions-favourites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2026\/11\/melbourne-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions-favourites\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne Cup 2026 Betting Tips, Predictions & Favourites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup<\/a><\/strong> (3200m) headlines Flemington on Tuesday, with the Neds form team diving into the 2026 Melbourne Cup betting tips, predictions and favourites<\/strong> for the ‘race that stops a nation’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Melbourne Cup barriers locked in and the form lines exposed, attention turns to a fascinating 24-horse field led by Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law, the heavily backed Ciaron Maher-trained favourite who is chasing history as one of the most lightly raced Melbourne Cup winners of the modern era. He faces a serious challenge from a powerful international contingent headed by Joseph O\u2019Brien\u2019s Trustyourinstinct and Sons And Lovers, as the Irish trainer hunts a third Melbourne Cup success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The locals, however, have plenty of ammunition of their own. Maher boasts a seven-strong team, while in-form stayers including So You Are, defending champion Knight\u2019s Choice, and a host of emerging Cup hopefuls add further depth to a typically competitive renewal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether the favourite delivers for punters or a roughie springs an upset, the 166th Melbourne Cup<\/strong> shapes as another outstanding edition of Australia\u2019s greatest horse race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Cup top fancy<\/strong>, the each-way danger<\/strong>, best Melbourne Cup roughie selections<\/strong>, Top 6 Cup picks <\/strong>and the value bets for the wider exotics<\/strong>, we’ve covered it all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you’ll find our full Melbourne Cup 2026 preview, expert betting tips and exotic selections <\/strong>on the race we’ve all been waiting for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 Melbourne Cup Favourites & Best Bets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Favourite<\/span>: <\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/use><\/svg><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Favourite<\/div>\n
No. 20 Point Of Law<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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I\u2019m normally skeptical to put the favourite in Melbourne Cup betting on top, but geez, POINT OF LAW (9)<\/strong> impressed in his Australian race debut and surely, he\u2019ll only present fitter and stronger for the run.<\/p>\n

The punters\u2019 pick hasn\u2019t saluted in the great race since Fiorente ($7 in 2013), but this lightly raced Maher import ticks plenty of boxes to break the drought.<\/p>\n

The progressive four-year-old Frankel entire charged up the markets with a powerhouse victory in the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup<\/a> and is now chasing a double not done since Dunaden in 2011.<\/p>\n

Drawn wide, he sat outside the frontrunner before giving a beautiful kick on the straight and racing away for a half-length win over Small Fry and showing plenty of guts.<\/p>\n

The ratings experts loved the performance, and so did I.<\/p>\n

Ethan Brown sticks aboard for his second Melbourne Cup ride following a game third on Middle Earth last year and, even with the penalty, his mount is on lovely 53kg light weight coming back 2kg from that he carried last start.<\/p>\n

These younger European\u2019s have a terrific strike-rate in the Melbourne Cup. Think: Rekindling (1st, 2017), Cross Counter (1st, 2018), Il Paradiso (3rd, 2019) and Tiger Moth (2nd, 2020). That\u2019s some serious form to consider.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s had the least experience of any of this year\u2019s contenders with Tuesday marking just his sixth career start but he\u2019s on the up-and-up, and what he did back in Europe when King Charles had him was good enough for this.<\/p>\n

Ran fourth at Royal Ascot over 2,846 metres and won the Bahrain Trophy (2,615m) at Newmarket, so the class is there.<\/p>\n

A few have a little query over him running out the 3200m, but he is bred to get it and has a terrific staying pedigree so I\u2019m not worried.<\/p>\n

Wouldn\u2019t want too much rain to fall before Cup Day as he\u2019ll be best on dry ground, but either way, that perfect midfield gate nine draw and all of the above have him on top for mine.<\/p>\n

Flemington R7 – Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)<\/span> <\/div>
Final<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
<\/colgroup>
1st<\/span><\/div>
<\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
20. Point Of Law (9)<\/span>
53kg<\/span>141×1<\/span><\/div>
J: Ethan Brown<\/span>T: Ciaron Maher<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
7.00<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/div>
2.90<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 03\/11\/2026 03:06:42 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n View Results: Point Of Law<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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