AU 
Melbourne Cup Antepost Betting Tips & Odds
3 minutes Here at betting.bet we’ll assess the chances of some of the major players in the antepost market
The Melbourne Cup is now less than three months away and as we build towards one of the world’s most prestigious horse races, here at betting.bet we’ll assess the chances of some of the major players in the antepost market, providing odds from our betting partners at Ladbrokes.
Melbourne Cup: Race Background & Overview
The Melbourne Cup was established way back in 1861 and is labelled as “the race that stops the nation”. It is traditionally held on the first Tuesday in November; a day which is now a public holiday throughout Victoria.
The race is open to horse aged three years and over and is currently the world’s richest two mile handicap. Legendary trainer Bart Cummings won a record twelve Melbourne Cups whilst jockeys Bobbie Lewis and Harry White have ridden a record four Melbourne Cup winners apiece.
The most successful horse in the race’s history is Makybe Diva who won an unprecedented three successive Melbourne Cup renewals between 2003 and 2005.
2023 Recap
Seven-year-old Without A Flight won the Melbourne Cup last year for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. In doing so, Without A Flight became the first horse to claim a Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double for 22 years and gave jockey Mark Zahra a second straight Melbourne Cup win.
Australian trainer Chris Waller wrapped up the minor places with Soulcombe (second) and Sheraz (third) rounding off the top three.
Early Market Leaders
Circle Of Fire is the current market leader after two solid runs for new trainer Ciaron Maher. Bred by Queen Elizabeth II, Circle Of Fire did not set the world alight in the UK but won at Randwick in April on his first run for his new yard. He then followed up his success in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality Handicap by landing the Group 1 Sydney Cup a week later.
Last year’s runner up Soulcombe is again one of Australia’s leading hopes but he’ll need to bounce back from the injury that kept him out of this year’s Autumn Carnival.
Vauban was a disappointing favourite in last year’s Melbourne Cup but connections have not ruled out returning to Flemington again this year. However, Vauban has failed to win any of his three runs since last year’s renewal.
Irish four-year-old Tower Of London could also head down to the Melbourne Cup but he has several notable entries up in Europe beforehand. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt could still run in the St Leger in Britain as well as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France. Tower Of London’s only defeat in four runs this year came in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and race winner Giavellotto is another tipped for a crack at the Melbourne Cup.
Francis-Henri Graffard-trained three-year-old Calandagan could be of real interest if the French star backs up his recent win in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes in the UK later this month.
Melbourne Cup Antepost Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Circle Of Fire | $15 |
| Tower Of London | $17 |
| A Piece Of Heaven, Illinois, Middle Earth, The Map, Vauban, Without A Fight | $21 |
| Caius Chorister, Grosvenor Square, Mark Twain, Siskany, Term Of Endearment, Uxmal, Warmonger | $26 |
| Absurde, Belloccio, Birdman, Changingoftheguard, Crystal Black, Deakin, Deira Mile, Desert Hero, Fawkner Park, Land Legend, More Felons, Place du Carrousel, Relentless Voyager, Riff Rocket, Royal Champion, Saint George, Sayedaty Sadati, Sevenna's Knight, Via Sistina, Warp Speed, West Wind Blows, Zardozi | $34 |
| Jan Brueghel | $41 |
