“Melbourne Cup 2013” (CC BY 2.0) by Bigbetting.com.au
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous horse race. This 2 mile handicap at Flemington which runs annually on the first Tuesday in November attracts entries from all over the world.
Many leading hopes in this race which stops a nation go Down Under from Europe. If you follow the Flat season in the Northern Hemisphere, then, you’ll have heard of some of those who line up.
As we’re all about matched betting, here are three horses that could run in the 2018 Melbourne Cup, and the case for both backing and laying them.
Torcedor
Ex-Irish trained six-year-old gelding Torcedor fits the age profile of most recent winners (five of the last eight) this decade. He stays further than the trip, and over it has a fine record of one win and two narrow seconds from four starts – all at Ascot.
Prior to joining German handler Andreas Woehler, who saddled Protectionist to Melbourne Cup glory in 2014, Torcedor was placed behind the British Isles’ top stayer Stradivarius on his last two Group 1 outings.
Although a general 16/1 in the 2018 Melbourne Cup ante post betting, it is a big ask on his first start for his new trainer because of the weight he’ll carry. Torcedor has been allotted 57kg and only three horses from 1970 onwards have shouldered that or more and won the race.
Cross Counter
Powerful owners Godolphin have never won the Melbourne Cup, but before this season they had never tasted Epsom Derby glory either. Retained trainer Charlie Appleby has thus had a fantastic campaign for the boys in blue and one of his stars has undoubtedly been three-year-old gelding Cross Counter.
After setting a new course record for a mile-and-a-half in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, this young gun was beaten just a head by stablemate Old Persian in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes – a key St Leger trial. That York form reads well as he finished ahead of subsequent Classic winner Kew Gardens.
While he’s virtually guaranteed to get in to the Melbourne Cup at a best-price 14/1 with British bookies, Cross Counter steps up in distance half-a-mile further than he’s ever raced. He’d also be the first three-year-old colt since 1941 to win this. Before backing and laying these horses, check out the many available online betting offers for horse racing.
Marmelo
Hughie Morrison trained five-year-old horse Marmelo ran last year in the Melbourne Cup off the same weight he’s set to carry this year. He was beaten 9 3/4 lengths and finished ninth, so is he a better horse 12 months on?
Only time will tell, but Racing Post ratings certainly suggest so after winning a Group 2 over 1m 6f at Longchamp this season. Prior to that, Marmelo was beaten just a neck by top French stayer Vazirabad on his return to action and then scored by the same margin in a Listed race from subsequent Ebor Handicap runner-up and Irish St Leger third Weekender at York.
As he’s not finished outside the first two in all four of his starts at one-and-three-quarter miles or further this season, he is certainly in-form. Marmelo, who is as big as 25/1 for Melbourne Cup glory at the second attempt, represents the joint most successful age in the race as both four and five-year-olds have won 44 renewals apiece.