We're back! It's the race that stops the nation, and the 2026 Melbourne Cup is shaping as another fascinating edition. Ciaron Maher has a record seven runners in the field, while Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien will saddle up five, meaning the pair account for half the field. Point Of Law heads into the race as favourite in just his sixth career start after an impressive victory in the Geelong Cup.
But there's plenty more to get excited about across the card. Not sure who to back? Not to worry, as we take you through our best selections and value runners across Tuesday's 10-race program at the iconic Flemington racecourse.
TAB fixed odds correct as of 7am AEDT, 2nd November, 2026 (please visit tab.com.au for the latest).
RACE 1 - Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m), 10:45am
As always this is a tricky race, so I'll lean towards the exposed form, with Royal Press the only horse in the field with raceday experience. He finished second over this trip at Caulfield in his first start, starting favourite and showing plenty of fight before going down narrowly. Amsterdam caught the eye in his latest Cranbourne jump-out, making good ground and producing a very nice burst of speed when asked for an effort. The Hayes and McEvoy stables have also combined to win six of the past 10 editions of this race, so there's plenty of respect for La La Lilly and Jetsetter.
Top selections:
1. Royal Press - $3.30
2. Amsterdam - $3.60
3. Jetsetter - $15.00
8. La La Lilly - $8.50
RACE 2 - Community Handicap (2000m), 11:20am
Chispa drops in class after tackling the Group 3 Tesio Stakes at Flemington, where she was near last on the turn but made some nice late ground. She maps to settle much closer here. Yauson was excellent in defeat at Caulfield last start in a Benchmark 78, racing wide without cover but still recording the fastest last 200m of the race. He should take plenty of benefit from that sustained effort and is in good form, so it's easy to see why he's favourite. Ichnusa also did his best work late first-up, Flemington should suit second-up and rising in trip.
Top selections:
10. Chispa - $6.50
14. Ichnusa - $10.00
13. Yauson - $2.90
2. Foujita San - $17.00
RACE 3 - One Pool Trophy (1800m), 12:00pm
I like Star Of Macedon up in distance third-up after getting too far back in a slowly run Gothic Stakes. I was keen on him on Derby Day, but he was scratched and saved for this, which looks a slightly easier assignment. Fringilla has been racing in good company and comes off a strong win on soft ground two starts ago. She now drops back in distance after having the track bias against her in the Group 3 Ethereal over 2000m. Katoto and Billycart both step up in trip and look to have plenty of ability, so are worth including.
Top selections:
2. Star Of Macedon - $3.40
8. Fringilla - $5.00
6. Katoto - $5.50
10. Billycart - $15.00
2026 Melbourne Cup field - every runner
RACE 4 - The Schweppervescence Plate (1000m), 12:40pm
Peyton drops from Group 2 level where he was fifth behind Satono Glow in the Roman Consul which is terrific form for this and he's drawn the right part of the track. The Speed Machine brings straight track experience after his second to Buggsy in the Red Anchor Stakes on Cox Plate Day. And both Strike Package and Splendacious look over the odds to me after their impressive debut runs at Cranbourne.
Top selections:
4. Peyton - $6.00
2. The Speed Machine - $10.00
7. Strike Package - $31.00
6. Splendacious - $21.00
RACE 5 - Australian Heritage Cup (2800m), 1:20pm
Jennivamoose didn't have much luck in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup won by Juja Kibo, she settled just behind the speed and kept chasing in what was a farcically run race, but looks a terrific chance here. Beach Pad gets a 3.5kg weight swing on her from their Archer Stakes run and looks a chance. Tempesti brings strong form running second to fellow Melbourne Cup fancy So You Are in the Group 3 St Leger at Randwick, where Athabascan also worked home well from off the pace.
Top selections:
5. Jennivamoose - $6.00
4. Tempesti - $5.50
16. Beach Pad - $12.00
2. Athabascan - $12.00
RACE 6 - Super Dry Plate (1800m), 1:55pm
Sabaj hasn't been living up to the hype this prep while racing in Group 1 company, including when he was back and wide in the Toorak beaten three lengths behind eventual Empire Rose winner Lady Shenandoah. But that's far better company than what he's tackling here and he's finally out in trip and draws a good barrier. I'm giving Darkbonee a huge chance as well. Raced keenly in a slowly run Coongy Handicap at Caulfield when stuck back on the rail. Back in distance here and can blend into this race better from a wider barrier. Wymark was an eyecatching winner in the Seymour Cup.
Top selections:
4. Sabaj - $2.60
10. Darkbonee - $5.50
7. Wymark - $15.00
8. Immediacy - $31.00
RACE 7 - Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), 3:00pm
Hopewell Rock is my top pick. He's a lightly-raced five-year-old who has hardly ever missed a place. Two runs back he carried 61kg and beat home Small Fry, who would have been a good chance here after subsequently finishing second to the favourite Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup. Most recently he was second in the Ebor Handicap over 2800m which has been a proven Melbourne Cup form reference in the past. That was on a soft track, and his jockey dropped the whip inside the final 200m, so there's an argument he should have won. Had he done so, he could have copped a bigger penalty, so he comes here well weighted.
Trustyourinstinct has class and showed a blistering turn of foot when winning the Curragh Cup two starts ago ahead of last year's Cup favourite Al Riffa. He was then fourth in the Group 1 Irish St Leger behind world class horses Scandinavia and Jan Brueghel which I trust. Has 57kg on his back here but that's far less than what he's been carrying overseas. Point Of Law is having just his sixth start but keeps on getting better, and his Geelong Cup win was breathtaking. The only query is reproducing that over 3200m, and whether he's mature enough to handle the occasion as a northern hemisphere three-year-old. His camp has said he carries on a bit and is still very immature, so manners on the day will be key. He's still open to so much improvement and if he relaxes, he could brain them.
Zahrann is the one I think the market is disrespecting. Won the Naturalism in fine style beating home Saint George who was one of the Melbourne Cup favourites before his scratching. Pen his awful Turnbull run, he just doesn't go on heavy going. And I don't think we saw the best of him in the Caulfield Cup when he copped interference and lost all momentum at the top of the straight right when he was building through his gears. Won't want too much rain, and the distance query is real -- he's never been over 2400m and he may just prove to be a brilliant 2000m horse -- but at least we're getting a good price to find out.
Shockletz has clearly beaten the handicapper and is having an awesome prep. I can't see a world where she doesn't run a huge race with that light weight. At the time of writing, Sons And Lovers is my sixth pick. Just behind him is James J Braddock, who has a bit of X-factor and becomes a genuine top-three winning chance if the heavens open tomorrow. He's a wet-tracker and gets in with just 53.5kg, so if we do get significant rain, he'll shoot right to the top of my selections.
Top selections:
12. Hopewell Rock - $11.00
2. Trustyourinstinct - $9.00
20. Point Of Law - $6.50
15. Zahrann - $26.00
24. Shockletz - $10.00
RACE 8 - The Amanda Elliott (1400m), 3:50pm
Mr Natural ran home really strongly against the pattern at Geelong last start when finishing second in a BM66, having won his maiden in similar fashion before that. He should be able to settle a little closer here and looks suited by the big Flemington straight. That said, Ranarsson comes here unbeaten after two starts, winning both in impressive times and comfortably from the front. He should find the lead and can measure up again. Autumn Lover is on the quick backup after finishing fifth behind the classy Regal Ambition on Derby Day. She's closed strongly in her past two runs and maps nicely.
Top selections:
13. Mr Natural - $6.00
5. Ranarsson - $2.30
11. Autumn Lover - $23.00
2. Barracks - $7.50
RACE 9 - The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), 4:35pm
Shadhavar was an easy winner of the Group 2 Tristarc over this distance at Caulfield last start, although it was a real leaders' day and she enjoyed the track bias. She'll still be hard to beat, but Terilee is the one I'm interested in. She was only second-up when finishing third in that race, so should have further improvement to come and gets a 2kg weight swing on the favourite.
Top selections:
8. Terilee - $6.50
2. Shadhavar - $3.40
4. Dance To The Boom - $9.50
7. So You Pence - $5.00
RACE 10 - Channel 9 Trophy (1400m), 5:15pm
I'm big on Everain in the last. He had absolutely nowhere to go behind a wall of horses at Geelong last start, yet still clocked the fastest last 400m of the entire meeting. He should have won that race. He's second-up now, gets to 1400m at Flemington and can handle all conditions. Buccleuch was a dominant winner at Caulfield last start beating home a few of these rivals and still has further improvement to come. Surf's Up was caught wide but flashed home in her most recent run. She's fitter third-up now and brings a different form line into the race. He'll Rip, Jett Smash next.
Top selections:
12. Everain - $6.50
1. Buccleuch - $3.90
6. He'll Rip - $17.00
7. Jett Smash - $7.00