The race that stops a nation is upon us, and 24 runners go to post for the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday. The A$10 million handicap over two miles is due off at 3pm local time, which means an alarm call for British and Irish punters, with the race off at 4am UK time.
Joseph O’Brien saddles five of the 24 runners as he bids for a third Melbourne Cup after Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020, though he lost his big hope Defiantly to a hoof abscess last week. Ciaron Maher is even more heavily represented with seven runners, including the well-fancied Point Of Law, while George Boughey, Harry Charlton and Roger Varian fly the flag for British stables with Hopewell Rock, Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar.
Joseph O’Brien’s runners
O’Brien has the top two in the weights for the 2026 Melbourne Cup. JP McManus’ Trustyourinstinct is challenging for favouritism off 9st, with top home jockey James McDonald set to ride. He won a 1m6f Group 2 two starts ago, but, despite being a hurdler, he is unproven over 2m on the Flat. Topping the weights, off 9st 1lb, is Sons And Lovers, with stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle aboard. Also a Group 2 winner over the St Leger distance, he ran well in the Dubai Gold Cup over 2m back in March and can make a bold show.
Last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes also represents O’Brien and McManus. She has shown mixed form this year and stall 19 is tough, but she was second from stall 20 a year ago behind a comfortable winner, herself nicely ahead of the third. She is carrying 7lb more this year, but should be in contention again.
O’Brien also has Derby third James J Braddock, a budding stayer, but from stall 24 he will likely need an almighty amount of luck. Royal Ascot winner Kizlyar won at that meeting over 2m4f, so definitely stays, but might lack the class in this company.
The British challenge
Headlines were made 24 hours in advance of the race when JP McManus and Paul Byrne put A$1 million on Hopewell Rock to win the race. George Boughey‘s charge was last seen finishing a desperately close second in the Ebor at York. The size of the prominent owners’ bets has seen Hopewell Rock’s price shorten. That is little wonder given 2m should suit this progressive stayer.
Wine Dark Sea is also in contention for Harry Charlton. The four-year-old is in stall 23, which makes this a serious challenge, while he struggled in the Caulfield Cup. The weights are not much more favourable here, but 2m may bring about improvement on his British form. That is less likely to be the case for Enfjaar for Roger Varian. His draw is fine, while his third in the Caulfield Cup was a top effort, but this trip may stretch his stamina.
Main Australian hopes
Formerly owned by HM The King, Point Of Law made a sparkling start for Ciaron Maher in the Geelong Cup. That was only the fifth start of the Bahrain Trophy winner’s career, but he is now three from five and the son of Frankel should prove a stayer at this distance.
Plenty hail from British and Irish origins. Middle Earth is another of those and another for Maher, with Mark Zahra set to partner him. His form has been mixed this term since a big win in May, but he was third a year ago, albeit from further down the handicap.
It is towards the foot of the handicap where most interest may lie for the hosts. The five-timer-chasing So You Are is proving prolific for Bjorn Baker and the So You Think gelding could easily have untapped potential at this distance. The same can be said of Zakouma, who should be fully fit after a prep run over 1m ten days ago and whose runs in Group 2s over 1m2f-1m4f this autumn look very promising for this contest. He has won at Listed level over 1m6f.
Also in the bottom five of the weights are both Mr Monaco and Shockletz. Both are Maher inmates, and the former, previously in Joseph O’Brien’s care, is in superb form, although his only 2m run was a flop. Shockletz is number 24, but should rate higher given his improved form this year as a five-year-old.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Racecard
04:00 Flemington
Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 3200m (2m)
- Class Group 1
- Race Type Handicap
- Surface Turf
- Runners 24
- Odds Aus prices, 2 Nov
Knight’s Choice 33/1
Wine Dark Sea 33/1
Onesmoothoperator 66/1
So You Are 10/1
Future History 66/1
Strictly Business 66/1
Zakouma 25/1
Joe Napier’s Melbourne Cup Selections
Joseph O’Brien sends an army of hopefuls, but this could be a sixth straight Melbourne Cup for the hosts courtesy of ZAKOUMA. The six-year-old has only just snuck in at the bottom of the handicap, but he is a 1m6f Listed winner who has run eye-catching races in a 1m2f handicap at Caulfield and a 1m4f Group 2 at the same track. He warmed up just ten days ago over 1m and promises to find extra in this contest with stall 10 a positive draw. Of the O’Brien brigade, last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes should again go well even carrying 7lb more, while Sons And Lovers can make a good fight of it off top weight.