If you’re looking for the best Melbourne Cup betting sites in the UK, then you’ve come to the right place. We have all the details about “The Race That Stops a Nation” Down Under in Australia. This page has everything to help you with betting in the Melbourne Cup on it from markets and offers to tips and past results.
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Bet £50 and Get £25 in Free Bets + 10 Free Spins
Bet £50 and Get £25 in Free Bets + 10 Free Spins
- Bet on all Melbourne Cup horses ante post
- Rags to Riches offer if beaten by 20/1+ shot
- Up to 25% bonus on Lucky 15s, 31s & 63s
50% Back up to £35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
50% Back up to £35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
- Wager on all horses ante post
- Acca Bonus deal for racing
- Loads of other horse racing offers
Deposit & Stake £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
Deposit & Stake £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
- Full Melbourne Cup ante post betting
- Daily Bet & Get racing offers
- Extra Place Races available every day
50% of First Day Losses Back As a Free Bet Up To £25
50% of First Day Losses Back As a Free Bet Up To £25
- Complete ante post betting available
- Nose loser money back as free bet
- Second to 50/1 or bigger refund
Bet £10 Get £50 in Bonuses
Bet £10 Get £50 in Bonuses
- Most horses quoted ante post
- All Correct & One Winner Bonus deals
- More Extra Place Races than anywhere
Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
- Bet on all Melbourne Cup horses
- Some Extra Place Races on offer
- Money Back as Free Bet if 2nd or 3rd
Bet £10 Get £20 + Free Bet If 2nd To SP Fav
Bet £10 Get £20 + Free Bet If 2nd To SP Fav
- Most horses quoted ante post
- Acca Loyalty offer for horses
- Daily Extra Place races
Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
- Bet on quoted horses ante post
- 4/1+ Winner bonus ideal for race
- Each Way+ promo & live streams
Explore Our Horse Racing Betting Guides
Best Melbourne Cup Betting Sites 2024
These British Melbourne Cup bookmakers are some of the top horse racing betting sites out there, but focus on Australia’s most famous event within this sport. Check out the top 10:
- bet365 – Bet on Melbourne Cup horses
- QuinnBet – Plenty of Melbourne Cup betting offers available
- The Pools – Bet and get deals for “The Race That Stops a Nation”
- Betgoodwin – Free bet up to £100 refunds on horse racing
- Betfred – The Bonus King with Melbourne Cup betting odds
- Virgin Bet – Money back as free bet if 2nd or 3rd in races
- Fansbet – Cash out your Melbourne Cup bets easily
- BoyleSports – Acca Loyalty, Insurance & Boosts available
- Rhino – New bookies for betting on the Melbourne Cup
- 888Sport – Get a bonus on Melbourne Cup winners of 4/1+
Melbourne Cup Betting Guide – How We Rank the Bookies
Come Melbourne Cup day, you now know which of the best UK betting sites we recommend. How have these bookies earned our experts’ acclaim, though? They met most if not all of the following key criteria that gives you a great gambling experience on “The Race That Stops a Nation”:
- Melbourne Cup Odds – Ultimately, it’s about getting the best prices on a horse race. That’s what the Melbourne Cup boils down to like any other. An event of this nature should have competitive odds because of the large field and mix of international and domestic runners.
- Melbourne Cup Betting Deals – As Australia’s most important horse race, it’s only fair to expect some betting promotions relating to it. From Extra Places to Money Back as a Free Bet deals, a top bookie will have these covered.
- Payment Options – Funding your gambling in a variety of ways is also important. From traditional banking methods like using a Debit Card to digitally friendly eWallet services like PayPal, choice at your fingertips is essential.
- Security – Whether you’re betting online in-browser or through mobile betting apps, safety is paramount. We only recommend Melbourne Cup betting sites that take security seriously, and protect your account and information with encrypted servers.
- Customer Service – Friendly, helpful and professional customer support is something great to fall back on if needed. You may need help understanding that your Melbourne Cup bets aren’t covered by Best Odds Guaranteed because it’s a race outside the UK and Ireland, for example.
Melbourne Cup Betting Odds 2024
As a big field race in a horse racing mad nation like Australia that attracts international runners, it’s fair to say that the Melbourne Cup odds available every year should be pretty competitive. This is because tying the form lines together from thoroughbreds trained in different countries and hemispheres is no easy task for traders.
A wide-open contest for sure, Melbourne Cup betting prices should reflect that. These are the main contenders for this year’s renewal of “The Race That Stops a Nation”, according to the market:
| Melbourne Cup Runners | Melbourne Cup Odds |
| Vauban | 16/5 |
| Without A Fight | 13/2 |
| Gold Trip | 15/2 |
| Absurde | 9/1 |
| Soulcombe | 9/1 |
| Breakup | 18/1 |
| Lastotchka | 18/1 |
| Future History | 20/1 |
| Military Mission | 25/1 |
| More Felons (used to be called Scriptwriter) | 28/1 |
Melbourne Cup Betting Markets
There are lots of different Melbourne Cup bets that punters can put on with most becoming available on the day of the race. We’re talking about fixed odds markets here rather than betting exchanges with their peer to peer wagers. While those give you the option of backing or laying Melbourne Cup horses, let’s take a look at the bets on offer with regular bookies:
Win Bet
If you want keep things plain and simple, then Melbourne Cup betting in its purest form is a win only wager. With this type of bet, the horse you back must finish first (or be awarded the race) to get a payout.
Each Way
It’s certainly wiser to place an each way bet on the Melbourne Cup. This is because the large field in the race means you will probably get Extra Places paid. Betting each way involves the straight win and a horse to fill a set number of places. This will be at least four, but likely plenty more, with a fraction (either a quarter or a fifth) of the outright odds paid out for a place.
Place Betting
It’s not all about finishing first. Punters may also find value in the place betting that covers more bases and mitigates potential losses. Whether you take two, three, four or even more places is up to you. There are various Melbourne Cup betting markets to choose from here. The more places covered by your wager, then the shorter the odds will be.
Ante Post
Getting your Melbourne Cup bets on early in the ante post betting is something that certain punters like. This is the industry term used for wagers struck with the bookies before the final field is known.
There are both potential risks and rewards by wagering ante post in the futures markets. The upside is you may get bigger Melbourne Cup betting prices in advance than on the day. You’re not guaranteed a run for your money, however, and that’s the drawback.
Forecast / Exacta
Called the Forecast if you’re using one of the fixed odds Melbourne Cup bookmakers or an Exacta on pari-mutuel and pool betting like the Tote, this involves backing more than one horse in the race. You bet on two horses to finish first and second in a set order. It’s a trickier wager to pull off but with the reward of bigger odds or dividends.
Tricast / Trifecta
Even more complex than Forecasts or Exactas are the equivalent bets involving a correct prediction on the first three horses home. Known as a Tricast on Melbourne Cup betting sites and the Trifecta in pari-mutuel pools, expect a big payout if you can pick the finishing order out right.
Distance Betting
With some horses, it’s not so much a question of will they win a race but by how far? That is where distance betting comes in. Melbourne Cup bookmakers give you the option not just to name the winner, but its margin of victory. This is measured in lengths (and parts of a length). If your fancy wins but at least that distance, then the wager pays out.
Match Betting
When you bet on a match in a horse racing event like the Melbourne Cup, the wager is effectively a race within a race. You specify that one named horse will beat another. It doesn’t matter where they finish in the overall standings, so long as they come pass the post in front of the one you want to take on.
Without the Favourite
Even in a race as big as the Melbourne Cup, there might be occasions where the favourite is too short a price. You have the option of taking the shortest one in the betting out of the equation in a separate market. This is a wager where you’re betting Without the Favourite, then.
It’s simpler than you think. If the horse you back wins the race or finishes second to the favourite, then the bet pays out. Without the Favourite can also be done each on some Melbourne Cup betting sites these days as well.
Insurance Betting
An often overlooked but sensible market punters can use to their advantage, Insurance betting covers different scenarios depending on the bookie. Some firms like Betfred offer money back if your horse places but doesn’t win. Others refund stakes as a free bet if your fancy fails to finish.
Melbourne Cup Betting Offers
British bookies are well aware that so many horses familiar to punters head Down Under to the Southern Hemisphere every year in search of Melbourne Cup glory. Tapping into that interest in a sporting event on the other side of they world, they’re going to have some betting offers and deals available.
We’re talking about both general and specific Melbourne Cup betting promotions that apply to “The Race That Stops a Nation”. These are well worth checking out and may provide extra incentive to take a punt on your Flemington fancies. Let’s take a look at them in more detail.
Bet & Get Deals
Some firms may have a bet £X on another race to get £Y in free bets for the Melbourne Cup. These are bet and get deals that allow you to play with bonus funds, rather than your cash balance, on the main event in Australia. Any time that Melbourne Cup betting sites offer you that, sit up, take notice and get involved, because it’s a free hit.
Extra Place Races
If ever there was a race designed for bookies providing Extra Places, then it’s the one. Much like the equally world famous Grand National closer to home for UK punters, the Melbourne Cup is a top-class handicap with a big field. It’s a wide-open betting heat, so the question is why wouldn’t bookmakers offer you more incentive to bet each way.
This is one of the best Melbourne Cup betting deals around because it increases the chances of your horse being placed. While those running into fifth or sixth spot will only pay out at a fifth of outright win odds, you can still turn a small profit from finding those horses that hit the frame. Extra Places are every punter’s friend.
Money Back as a Free Bet if…
In a similar vein, you can also mitigate potential loss if there’s a deal that provides your stake back as a free bet in certain conditions. Melbourne Cup betting promotion that do this include if your horse finishes second to a big-priced outsider or the SP favourite.
While market leaders have a poor record in this race, it’s not usual for a shock result every now and then. Getting your stake refunded as a bonus means your next bet doesn’t have to risk further capital. Not only do you have a free hit at getting your money back, but you make get lucky and end up picking a winner next time.
Melbourne Cup Betting Specials
A race of this magnitude is going to have specials priced up by the bookies. It might be for a certain trainer to saddle the winner, or the country of the winning horse, for example. Specials can be a fun way of engaging with betting in the Melbourne Cup due to the novelty factor. You may be able to cheer on multiple horses from one bet.
How Melbourne Cup Betting Works
When you bet on the Melbourne Cup online, there are certain things to remember. Firstly, this Grade 1 race is a handicap. That means a list of weights is drawn up for it that can make or break chances. Second, horses can fast-track their way to Flemington by winning one of three ballot exemptions races held in Australia during the weeks leading up to it.
Melbourne Cup Weights
Every single year its falls to the race organisers, Racing Victoria (RV), to create a handicap for all Melbourne Cup runners entered. This isn’t a conditions race, so weights are allotted based on form. As noted above, this is a tough task for the assessors as there are both international and domestic Australian form lines to consider.
Given European horses’ fine recent record in the race, RV handicappers may decide to treat them harshly compared to thoroughbreds trained Down Under. It’s a delicate balancing act between attracting international competition and giving domestic racehorses a fair crack at beating the raiders from the Northern Hemisphere.
The Melbourne Cup betting latest is also underpinned by these weights. A horse with good form can easily become badly handicapped based on the official VRC assessment of it and their ability. These are the Melbourne Cup weights for this year’s top 10 in the iconic handicap race from Flemington:
| Melbourne Cup Runners | Weight Based on RV Rating |
| Gold Trip | 9st 3lb |
| Alenquer | 8st 13lb |
| Without A Fight | 8st 13lb |
| Breakup | 8st 9lb |
| Vauban | 8st 9lb |
| Soulcombe | 8st 6lb |
| Absurde | 8st 5lb |
| Right You Are | 8st 5lb |
| Vow And Declare | 8st 5lb |
| Ashrun | 8st 2lb |
| Daqiansweet Junior | 8st 2lb |
| Okita Soushi | 8st 2lb |
| Sheraz | 8st 2lb |
| Lastotchka | 8st |
| Magical Lagoon | 8st |
| Military Mission | 8st |
| Serpentine | 8st |
| Virtuous Circle | 8st |
| More Felons (used to be called Scriptwriter) | 7st 13lb |
| Future History | 7st 12lb |
| Interpretation | 7st 12lb |
| Kalapour | 7st 12lb |
| True Marvel | 7st 12lb |
Ballot Exemption Races
There are so many hopeful Melbourne Cup horses that not all of the initial entries will get into the final field of 24. If a runner wants to guarantee their spot in “The Race That Stops a Nation”, however, then there is a way. Ballot exemption races for the Melbourne Cup give horses extra incentive to take in a prep run in Australia.
It’s quite simple really. A horse can catapult itself into contention in the Melbourne Cup betting by earning victory in one of the seven following “win and you’re in” races held at Flemington or other tracks in Victoria and at York in the UK. Punters should certainly pay close attention to these successful thoroughbreds:
- Goldman (NR) – The Roy Higgins (Flemington, Listed stakes race in March, 1m 5f)
- Lunar Flare (NR) – The Andrew Ramsden (Flemington, Listed stakes race in May, 1m 6f)
- Absurde – The Ebor (York, Premier Handicap in August, 1m 6f)
- Future History – The Bart Cummings (Flemington, Grade 3 handicap in October, 1m 4½f)
- Without A Fight – Caulfield Cup (Caulfield, Grade 1 handicap in October, 1m 4f)
- Romantic Warrior (NR) – Cox Plate (Moonee Valley, Grade 1 stakes race in October, 1m 2f)
- Kalapour – Lexus Archer Stakes (Flemington, Grade 3 handicap in November, 1m 4½f)
Recent Melbourne Cup Results
Before you do any Melbourne Cup betting this year, it’s also worth looking back on past horse racing results from “The Race That Stops a Nation”.
2023 Melbourne Cup Result
| Position | Silks | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st |  |
Without A Fight (16) | Mark Zahra | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 2¼ lengths | 7/1 |
| 2nd |  |
Soulcombe (4) | Joao Moreira | Chris Waller | ½ a length | 17/2 |
| 3rd |  |
Sheraz (22) | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 2 lengths | 150/1 |
| 4th |  |
Ashrun (11) | Kerrin McEvoy | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | head | 25/1 |
| 5th |  |
Daqiansweet Junior (12) | Daniel Stackhouse | Phillips Stokes | ½ a length | 50/1 |
Given 12 months to full acclimatise to racing Down Under, Without A Fight put last year’s disappointing effort in the Melbourne Cup behind him. He became the first horse to complete the Caulfield Cup and Flemington showpiece double since Ethereal way back in 2001. Without A Fight was produced to lead approaching the final furlong by last year’s winning jockey Mark Zahra and ran on, pulling clear of 2022 Queen’s Cup hero Soulcombe.
Another Chris Waller horse in 150/1 outsider Sheraz also hit the frame back in third. Ashrun was tenth back in 2020, but ran much better in his second crack at this race for the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace team with fourth place in Melbourne Cup result of 2023. Founding out the top six, meanwhile, were Daqiansweet Junior and Interpretation. After drifting in the betting, favourite Vauban disappointed down the field.
Melbourne Cup Result 2022
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Gold Trip (13) | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 2 lengths | 20/1 |
| 2nd | Emissary (3) | Patrick Moloney | Michael Moroney | 1¼ lengths | 25/1 |
| 3rd | High Emocean (8) | Teodore Nugent | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 1¾ lengths | 40/1 |
| 4th | Deauville Legend (9) | Kerrin McEvoy | James Ferguson (UK) | 1 length | 17/5F |
| 5th | Realm Of Flowers (5) | Damien Thornton | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 1¼ lengths | 7/1 |
French import Gold Trip relished the soft ground and went one better than his effort in the Caulfield Cup to capture “The Race That Stops a Nation”, showing reserves of stamina to hold off Emissary by a couple of lengths. The fast-finishing High Emocean pipped British-trained favourite Deauville Legend for third at Flemington.
2021 Melbourne Cup Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Verry Elleegant (18) | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 4 lengths | 17/1 |
| 2nd | Incentivise (15) | Brett Prebble | Peter Moody | ½ a length | 19/10F |
| 3rd | Spanish Mission (14) | Craig Williams | Andrew Balding (UK) | head | 9/1 |
| 4th | Floating Artist (10) | Teodore Nugent | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 6 lengths | 10/1 |
| 5th | The Chosen One (5) | Damian Lane | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 2 lengths | 30/1 |
Verry Elleegant reversed Turnbull Stakes form with Incentivise in emphatic style to add another mare’s name to the list of Melbourne Cup winners. Little separated second from fourth with British raider Spanish Mission splitting the Caulfield Cup hero and narrow Moonee Valley Gold Cup runner-up Floating Artist. They pulled well clear of the rest of the field.
Melbourne Cup 2020 Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer(s) | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Twilight Payment (12) | Jye McNeil | Joseph O’Brien (IRE) | ½ a length | 25/1 |
| 2nd | Tiger Moth (22) | Kerrin McEvoy | Aidan O’Brien (IRE) | head | 11/2 |
| 3rd | Prince Of Arran (1) | Jamie Kah | Charlie Fellowes (UK) | 1¾ lengths | 17/2 |
| 4th | The Chosen One (5) | Daniel Stackhouse | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | short-head | 40/1 |
| 5th | Persan (19) | Michael Dee | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 1 length | 30/1 |
There was an Irish 1-2 at Flemington with relative veteran Twilight Payment leading home the well-fancied Tiger Moth. Race veteran Prince Of Arran came with his customary late charge for third with domestic horses doing no better than fourth. Best of those was The Chosen One, ahead of Persan.
2019 Melbourne Cup Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Vow And Declare (21) | Craig Williams | Danny O’Brien | head | 10/1 |
| 2nd (4th) | Master Of Reality (1) | Frankie Dettori | Joseph O’Brien (IRE) | nose | 25/1 |
| 3rd (2nd) | Prince Of Arran (8) | Michael Walker | Charlie Fellowes (UK) | nose | 16/1 |
| 4th (3rd) | Il Paradiso (16) | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien (IRE) | ½ a length | 14/1 |
| 5th | Surprise Baby (20) | Jordan Childs | Paul Preusker | neck | 11/1 |
There was just no denying Vow And Declare victory, but a rare amendment to Melbourne Cup results saw the placings altered in a bunched finish. While that didn’t involve the winner, the second past the post – Master Of Reality – got demoted to fourth. That meant promotions in the amended result for UK raider Prince Of Arran and Irish counterpart Il Paradiso.
Melbourne Cup 2018 Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Cross Counter (19) | Kerrin McEvoy | Charlie Appleby (UK) | 1 length | 8/1 |
| 2nd | Marmelo (10) | Hugh Bowman | Hughie Morrison (UK) | 2 lengths | 11/1 |
| 3rd | Prince Of Arran (20) | Michael Walker | Charlie Fellowes (UK) | ½ a length | 20/1 |
| 4th | Finche (15) | Zac Purton | Chris Waller | 1 length | 25/1 |
| 5th | Rostropovich (21) | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien (IRE) | 1¼ lengths | 20/1 |
The British had been trying for years to get one of their horses on the list of Melbourne Cup winners and Cross Counter was the one to finally deliver for powerful owner-breeders Godolphin. He led home a UK-trained 1-2-3 with Marmelo and Prince Of Arran in-behind the Glorious Goodwood races winner for Charlie Appleby.
2017 Melbourne Cup Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Rekindling (4) | Corey Brown | Joseph O’Brien (IRE) | ½ a length | 14/1 |
| 2nd | Johannes Vermeer (3) | Ben Melham | Aidan O’Brien (IRE) | 2½ lengths | 12/1 |
| 3rd | Max Dynamite (2) | Zac Purton | Willie Mullins (IRE) | 2¾ lengths | 19/1 |
| 4th | Big Duke (5) | Brenton Avdulla | Darren Weir | ¾ of a length | 20/1 |
| 5th | Nakeeta (19) | Glyn Schofield | Iain Jardine (UK) | 2¼ lengths | 40/1 |
An Irish 1-2-3 wasn’t exactly what Melbourne Cup betting odds suggested would happen in advance of the race, but Rekindling gave fledgling trainer Joseph O’Brien a sensational victory over famous father Aidan. Ballydoyle runner Johannes Vermeer pulled clear of Max Dynamite from the Willie Mullins stable with the best of the Australian runners coming fourth.
Melbourne Cup 2016 Result
| Position | Horse (Stall) | Jockey | Trainer | Distance | Starting Price |
| 1st | Almandin (17) | Kerrin McEvoy | Robert Hickmott | head | 10/1 |
| 2nd | Heartbreak City (23) | Joao Moreira | Tony Martin (IRE) | 4¼ lengths | 18/1 |
| 3rd | Hartnell (12) | James McDonald | J O’Shea | 2¼ lengths | 9/2F |
| 4th | Qewy (15) | Craig Williams | Charlie Appleby (UK) | short-head | 20/1 |
| 5th | Who Shot Thebarman (20) | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | short-head | 25/1 |
The aptly named Irish raider Heartbreak City went down fighting by a head to Almandin with the front two pulling well clear of the other Melbourne Cup horses in this renewal. Godolphin runners filled third and fourth but neither were any match for Robert Hickmott’s determined winner.
Past Melbourne Cup Winners
Looking over previously successful horses can give some clues in the Melbourne Cup betting this time around. Know who trained and rode past winners tells you who targets this world-famous race year after year. British punters who naturally aren’t experts on Australia horses can learn about stables to follow as a result.
- 2023 – Without A Fight (Mark Zahra, Anthony & Sam Freedman)
- 2022 – Gold Trip (Mark Zahra, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)
- 2021 – Verry Elleegant (James McDonald, Chris Waller)
- 2020 – Twilight Payment (Jye McNeil, Joseph O’Brien)
- 2019 – Vow And Declare (Craig Williams, Danny O’Brien)
- 2018 – Cross Counter (Kerrin McEvoy, Charlie Appleby)
- 2017 – Rekindling (Corey Brown, Joseph O’Brien)
- 2016 – Almandin (Kerrin McEvoy, Robert Hickmott)
- 2015 – Prince Of Penzance (Michelle Payne, Darren Weird)
- 2014 – Protectionist (Ryan Moore, Andreas Wohler)
- 2013 – Fiorente (Damien Oliver, Gai Waterhouse)
- 2012 – Green Moon (Brett Prebble, Robert Hickmott)
- 2011 – Dunaden (Christophe Lemaire, Mikel Delzangles)
- 2010 – Americain (Gerald Mosse, Alain de Royer-Dupre)
- 2009 – Shocking (Corey Brown, Mark Kavanagh)
- 2008 – Viewed (Blake Shinn, Bart Cummings)
- 2007 – Efficient (Michael Rodd, Graeme Rogerson)
- 2006 – Delta Blues (Yasunari Iwata, Katsuhiko Sumii)
- 2005 – Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, Lee Freedman)
- 2004 – Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, Lee Freedman)
- 2003 – Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, David Hall)
- 2002 – Media Puzzle (Damien Oliver, Demot Weld)
- 2001 – Ethereal (Scott Seamer, Sheila Laxon)
- 2000 – Brew (Kerrin McEvoy, Mike Moroney)
Best Melbourne Cup Betting App
If you’re betting on the Melbourne Cup on mobile, then you need one of the top horse racing betting apps around today. Many of the leading British bookies have such a platform specifically designed for compatibility with your smartphone or tablet’s operating system.
It doesn’t matter whether you have a device powered by Android or iOS. These apps put Melbourne Cup betting online through mobile at your fingertips. We’ve already seen how Betfred provide lots of horse racing deals, so they are well worth checking out for a streamlined gambling experience for “The Race That Stops a Nation”.
This is arguably the best app for Melbourne Cup betting today because of the pledge to offer more Extra Place Races than any other bookie. Getting those, plus more Betfred promotions that may apply to this big event gives you every incentive to get involved through mobile.
Live Streaming & Melbourne Cup Betting Online
A horse race all the way in Australia can seem like an exotic and far off event to punters in the UK. That doesn’t mean you can’t see the action live if you’ve put a bet on the Melbourne Cup online, though. Many bookies provide horse racing live streaming opportunities even on the action Down Under!
The likes of 888Sport, Betfred and QuinnBet all include streams from Australia in their Bet & Watch coverage. A minimum £1 qualifying bet is all you need to watch the Melbourne Cup when logged in to your betting account. Just remember to set your alarm for an early start because of the time difference between the UK and Melbourne!
Our Top Melbourne Cup Betting Tips
Over the years, our experts have picked up a few things in relation to world-famous races like this one. The Melbourne Cup can be looked at like just another handicap, even if it’s more prestigious than almost any other event of its type around the world. It’s important to keep things in perspective with horse racing betting tips, whatever the contest.
Any Melbourne Cup betting UK punters do should be informed by certain strategies and advice if you want a successful gambling experience. We asked our experts to share their top tips for making the most of this race. See those below, plus some specific Melbourne Cup tips for this year’s edition…
Follow Key Trials Down Under & in Europe
With ballot exemption races only guaranteeing the winners spots in the Melbourne Cup, these horses may not be the ones to take out of such events moving forward. None of the “win and you’re in” contests are over the same distance as the big one. Horses staying on into the places, shaping like they will go well over further, could be types to follow. Come Melbourne Cup day, it’s all about getting two miles.
Look at the Melbourne Cup Weights Carefully
When the weights are published, you have a key piece of data to help with Melbourne Cup betting as you know the RV handicapper’s assessment. Penalties apply to ballot exemption race winners, so bear that in mind before taking a punt. Careful study of the weights to see if the assessor gives certain horses chances is a fine balance, but one that comes over time with experience.
Study Racehorse Pedigrees
There is a bit of a penchant with running horses over wildly different distances in Australia. Every thoroughbred has an optimum trip based on its breeding. Looking at pedigrees can give you some clues as to which horses will be best suited by the two mile distance of the Melbourne Cup. Stamina is an underestimated quality here.
Melbourne Cup Tips 2024
Irish master trainer Willie Mullins sends a strong hand Down Under for the 2m Grade 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup with Ebor winner Absurde and his Royal Ascot conqueror Vauban both set for runs in “The Race That Stops a Nation”. It is very hard to get away from the latter, who looks a worthy favourite.
Owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, Vauban is a five-year-old son of Galiway who placed in both the Irish and Punchestown Champion Hurdle races last jumps season. He has since established himself as a top stayer in the Flat with a facile success in the Copper Horse Handicap during Ascot races‘ Royal meeting in June.
Vauban left stable companion Absurde with far too much to do, surging clear of the field approaching two furlongs out and routing the field by some 7 1/2 lengths. As he has since followed-up in a Group 3 at Naas, he’s the top European contender. Vauban is also said to be thriving out in Australia and he’s definitely the one to beat.
Without A Fight Can Give Better Account
Better ground would suit Without A Fight who found a soft surface against him last year. Now representing the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable, this Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned six-year-old Teofilo gelding has now fully acclimatised to life Down Under.
Without A Fight took his form to a whole new level when needing every yard to get up and land the Caulfield Cup. That gave him automatic entry for another crack at this. Although 3lb higher in the weights than 12 months ago, he has clearly strengthened and could have last year’s winning jockey Mark Zahra switching from Gold Trip.
More Expected from Soulcombe
Chris Waller has a live contender in British import Soulcombe after his Flemington Queen’s Cup success at the Spring Carnival last year. Formerly trained by William Haggas, this four-year-old Frankel gelding landed the Melrose Handicap at York races before going Down Under.
Soulcombe was an eye-catching third in the Turnbull Stakes at the home of the Melbourne Cup on his penultimate start. He meets Gold Trip off 6lb better terms from that day here. After missing the break in the Caulfield Cup last time but staying on into seventh, a better start gives him claims.
Future History Has Significant Jockey Booking
Hollie Doyle heads out to Australia for the ride on Future History, an automatic Melbourne Cup qualifier after his Bart Cummings success. One of five in the race for the powerful Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable, this five-year-old Showcasing gelding does have stamina to prove.
It wasn’t an issue at Flemington when Future History booked his spot for the big one, however, and he was beaten less than a length by the scratched Cleveland when third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time out. Splitting the pair was 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare, who re-opposes, so the form has a solid look to it. Off joint bottom weight, Future History is another to consider each way.
Other Melbourne Cup Contenders
Gold Trip (15/2)
Last year’s hero Gold Trip dispelled stamina doubts to win and now frames the weights for Australia’s biggest race. A successful French import to the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace team, this six-year-old son of Outstrip has since won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes back at Flemington.
Gold Trip hasn’t been disgraced in lead-up races to the defence of his Melbourne Cup either. He didn’t get a clear run in the Caulfield Cup, so couldn’t reach Without A Fight but still snatched third. Dropping down in distance for the Cox Plate didn’t suit him when fifth either.
Absurde (9/1)
Mullins second string Absurde has an automatic berth in the Melbourne Cup after his Ebor success. This five-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding is also 4lb better off with Vauban from Royal Ascot. Absurde overcame the widest draw of all at York, so that was a great effort. There is something to find with Vauban, but his own claims are clear.
Breakup (18/1)
Japanese horses have been taking the world by storm at major international meetings, so Breakup is interesting. This five-year-old by Novellist hit the frame twice behind Justice Palace in graded staying events. Although then no match for Equinox, Breakup was a never nearer eighth in the Caulfield Cup. He looked short of room, but the run should bring his fitness on.
Lastotchka (18/1)
Melbourne Cup winners trained in and sourced from France isn’t exactly unprecedented, so recent import Lastotchka looks worth closer inspection. Now with Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr., this four-year-old Myboycharlie filly won the Prix Gladiateur last time. Lastotchka has swerved all the big staying events at home, so this is a target for her off just 8st.
Military Mission (25/1)
Australian trainer duo Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott run two and, while 2020 Epsom Derby hero Serpentine is known to British punters, another ex-UK horse in Military Mission could outrun his odds for their yard. This five-year-old grey son of Mastercraftsman took the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield in style. Military Mission meets re-opposing third Daqiansweet Junior off the same term, so may well confirm form under Rachel King.
The Last Word
Not that you know all about the best Melbourne Cup betting sites and bookies, all that remains is to take a punt. Follow our tips or make your own mind up, it’s entirely up to you. The recommended Melbourne Cup bookmakers can be found here:
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FAQs
[Q0]When is the Melbourne Cup?[/Q0] [A0]The Melbourne Cup date is fixed as the first Tuesday of November. In 2023, that means the race takes place on Tuesday, 7 November. It is the centrepiece of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, one of the most important horse racing meetings in Australia.[/A0] [Q1]Where is the Melbourne Cup held?[/Q1] [A1]The Melbourne Cup venue is Flemington Racecourse on the outskirts of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. This track is on alluvial flats by the Maribyrnong River.[/A1] [Q2]Can I bet on Melbourne Cup online?[/Q2] [A2]You can indeed. There are plenty of Melbourne Cup betting sites out there which British punters can place their wagers on.[/A2] [Q3]What’s the best way to bet on the Melbourne Cup?[/Q3] [A3]We recommend each way betting for this race, because of the large Melbourne Cup field size and hotly competitive nature of the race. This type of wager pays out if your horse is placed as well as if it wins.[/A3] [Q4]How much is the Melbourne Cup worth?[/Q4] [A4]Total prize money for the biggest Australian horse racing event is A$8,000,000. This is why so many international horses head Down Under for the race every year.[/A4]
Jamie Clark Senior Sports Editor
Jamie Clark Senior Sports Editor
