It's Melbourne Cup day!
If you're only a casual punter, this is the day to dust off your TAB account or enter our office sweepstake.
Not sure who to back? Newshub's runner-by-runner guide has everything you need to know about those in the field.
Download our sweepstake kit to organise your office draw.
Tuesday 5pm, Flemington Race Seven
1. Twilight Payment
Barrier: 2
Weight: 58kg
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Won the race last year, after leading the whole way in a beautiful ride and since then has been racing well in Europe. Won a top-class staying race in Ireland in the build-up to this, but has to carry an extra 2.5kg.
Drawn well and is a decent price, would be the oldest-ever horse to win the race.
2. Incentivise
Barrier: 16
Weight: 57kg
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Brett Prebble
One of the hottest horses in the world right now, a front-running freak that won the Caulfield Cup at a canter. Has won nine races in a row, including three-straight Group One wins.
Currently the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite since Phar Lap more than 90 years ago. It's simple - he's never raced 3200m before, but if he handles it, he wins.
3. Spanish Mission
Barrier: 14
Weight: 57kg
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Craig Williams
Went toe-to-toe with Stradivarius earlier this year in one of the races of the season - the Lonsdale Cup - and many people think Stradivarius is the best stayer in the sport. No question whether he will last 3200m and looks like a very, very good chance.
4. Verry Elleegant
Barrier: 19
Weight: 57kg
Trainer: James McDonald
Jockey: Chris Waller
Ran a very impressive Cox Plate, has been one of the best mares in the country over the last few seasons and was seventh in this race last year. Finished second in the Winx Stakes earlier this year, then won the George Main and is trending in the right direction.
Ran very well in this race last year, has the best jockey in the land on board, but the track may end up too dry for her.
5. Explosive Jack
Barrier: 4
Weight: 54kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & DavidEustace
Jockey: John Allen
Won the South Australia Derby earlier this year, but has done little since that run and was woeful in the Caulfield Cup. Could surprise, but the jury is out on this horse, which has not placed in the two starts so far at Flemington.
6. The Chosen One
Barrier: 5
Weight: 54kg
Trainer: Andrew Forsman/ Murray Baker
Jockey: Damian Lane
One of the two Kiwi-trained horses racing this year. Fourth in this race a year ago, but hasn't had the same success in the build-up to this year's Cup.
Drawn well and ran on well in the Herbert Power last month, can last the 3200m trip too and very rarely goes a bad race. There are certainly worse horses.
7. Delphi
Barrier: 3
Weight: 53.5kg
Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Won the Herbert Power in a dominant display, but was then very disappointing in the Caulfield Cup. Has a gun jockey who knows how to win this race, so could surprise.
8. Ocean Billy
Barrier: 13
Weight: 53.5kg
Trainers: Bill Pomare & Chris Waller
Jockey: Damien Thornton
The second Kiwi-trained horse in the field won the Auckland Cup earlier this year and has joined wonder-trainer Chris Waller, since he moved across the ditch. Needs everything to go his way, but Waller will get the best out of him.
9. Selino
Barrier: 24
Weight: 53.5kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Ron Stewart
Won the Sydney Cup, proving he can get this trip. Will need to be better than recently to feature.
Horror barrier draw too - others preferred.
10. Johnny Get Angry
Barrier: 22
Weight: 53kg
Trainer: Denis Pagan
Jockey: Lachlan King
Won the Victorian Derby a year ago, but has done very little since. Ninth is his best finish this preparation, beaten 29 lengths two starts ago.
If you don’t draw a favourite in the office sweepstake, you want this runner, because you’ll probably get your money back.
11. Knights Order
Barrier: 9
Weight: 53kg
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Will probably look to be on speed in the run, but was average on Saturday in the Hotham. Would be surprised to see this in the finish.
12. Persan
Barrier: 11
Weight: 53kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & DavidEustace
Jockey: Luke Currie
Finished strongly in this race a year ago, which indicates the distance wont be an issue. Gritty in the finish of the Caulfield Cup.
Can't see him winning, but a good bet for place and top four.
13. Carif
Barrier: 8
Weight: 52.5kg
Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden
Jockey: Blaike McDougall
Has won over 3200m before, which not many horses in this field can say. May have been keen, if this race was earlier this season, but recent form has been bang average.
14. Master of Wine
Barrier: 6
Weight: 52.5kg
Trainers: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Jockey: Fred Kersley
Talented horse on his day, but very much out of form, No thank you.
15. Pondus
Barrier: 1
Weight: 52.5kg
Trainer: Robert Hickmott
Jockey: Rachel King
Not sure this horse can win this race, but has decent enough UK form. Hasn’t been as good since arriving in Australia, knockout place chance.
16. Grand Promenade
Barrier: 21
Weight: 52kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: 2
Won the Bart Cummings last month to qualify for this race. Had a nice winter and looks like he can make the step up to the 3200m.
A serious threat at pretty nice odds.
17. Miami Bound
Barrier: 17
Weight: 52kg
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Jockey: Patrick Maloney
A genuine wet tracker in my opinion, so will need a tsunami to hit Flemington. Will probably run out the 3200m, but can't have her close to selections for this race.
18. Port Guillaume
Barrier: 23
Weight: 52kg
Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Hasn't been the same horse since arriving from France. Has drawn the carpark and probably doesn't have the class to trouble this field.
19. She's Ideel
Barrier: 20
Weight: 52kg
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Really hot or cold. Lightweight, but a horrible draw and massive odds.
Could be flying home late, but can't see it troubling others.
20. Future Score - scratched
Barrier: 15
Weight: 51.5kg
Trainer: Matt Cumani
Jockey: Dean Yendall
Increase in distance is a concern and it's certainly a rise in class. Can't see this getting close and the market agrees.
21. Tralee Rose
Barrier: 12
Weight: 51kg
Trainer: Symon Wilde
Jockey: Dean Holland
Building a fine resume, with half a dozen wins in just 15 starts. Won the Geelong Cup nicely, with some fight in the last 200m.
Showing signs of being able to run out the 3200m, carrying a very light weight and has to be a knockout chance.
22. Floating Artist
Barrier: 10
Weight: 50kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Teodore Nugent
In red-hot form, should've won last start and gets in at a very light weight. Only concern is this horse has never won beyond 2400m and that win was two years ago.
Preparation has still shown enough that he could stick on here, won't be far away in the end.
23. Great House
Barrier: 7
Weight: 50kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Michael Dee
Won his spot into this race on Derby Day with an impressive last few hundred metres, so distance shouldn’t be an issue. Genuine knockout chance that will have to handle the quick back-up.
24. Sir Lucan
Barrier: 18
Weight: 50kg
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Glen Boss
Such a lightly raced horse it's hard to tell whether or not he will handle the trip, but at the same it’s hard to rule him out completely - has no weight on the back and a very good jockey, prefer this time next year on this runner.
Predictions
First: Spanish Mission - Will stay out the trip and will burst past Incentivise with a couple of hundred metres to go.
Second: Tralee Rose - Set to peak for this race, trending well and will stay all day.
Third: Grand Promenade - Trending in the right direction, won last start and hit the line well.
Fourth: Incentivise - No doubt this is a high-quality horse, but wary about whether he can last the 3200m trip. Will have a huge fight at about the 300m mark and others will go past.
Join us from midday Tuesday for live updates of the Melbourne Cup carnival from Flemington
