The race that stops a nation is back in the very early hours of Tuesday morning with another 24-runner renewal of the Melbourne Cup.
The action comes from Flemington and there’s plenty of British and Irish interest in this year’s renewal with Willie Mullins having another crack at the race as well as two British raiders.
Here, we’ve picked out two selections for the big race including an Irish runner with a big chance and an each-way value pick at double figure odds.
4.00 (GMT) Flemington - 2m Lexus Melbourne Cup
Willie Mullins has gone close to winning this contest down the years with the likes of Max Dynamite and in the same colours, Vauban might be worth chancing this time around.
Not much went right for Vauban in this race last year and Mullins has admitted there was a blunder as far as the tactics were concerned for Rich Ricci’s runner. who didn’t get to make use of his stamina in 2023.
However, there are a few reasons to think he can go well this time around. Firstly, the son of Galiway has stronger form in the book than what he brought into this contest last year, including a career best Flat effort in York’s Lonsdale Cup before a huge run behind Kyprios, who is the standout stayer in Europe by some distance.
While he has to carry topweight in this year’s renewal, top class staying form in Europe is on a different level to that Down Under and he looks capable of running a huge race if William Buick gets the tactics right, a jockey who is riding the crest of a wave after success at the weekend’s Breeders’ Cup meeting.
With the step back up in trip on quick ground likely to be up his street, there’s an argument to say that the six-year-old should be the outright favourite for this contest and he looks capable of a big effort.
With 24 runners it’s worth having a saver in this contest and the one that appeals most at the prices is Okita Soushi.
Just like Vauban, he wasn’t seen to best effect in this contest last year when given far too much to do from rear when trained by Joseph O’Brien, but he comes into this contest in much better form after moving to Ciaron Maher’s stable.
The son of Galileo gained compensation for a narrow defeat in Grade 2 company at Caulfield when getting the better of the 2020 Epsom Derby winner, Serpentine, in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last month.
He has to carry the 2lb penalty for that recent success but he’s still got scope from a handicapping perspective and he’s not yet exposed at this sort of trip either.
Quick ground is going to be right up his street and there’s an argument to say he’s been underestimated to some extent in the market with the talented rider, Jamie Kah, taking over in the saddle.
SELECTION: VAUBAN
NEXT BEST: OKITA SOUSHI
