2026 Melbourne Cup Tips - Odds, draw and two outside selections
The 2026 Melbourne Cup sees Sons And Lovers tipped as a strong outsider, despite carrying top weight, after notable performances against Group One winners and a favourable draw in stall three. Wine Dark Sea, who disappointed in the Caulfield Cup, is expected to improve over the extended trip at Flemington, having previously won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Both selections are seen as value bets based on their proven stamina and consistent form, with Sons And Lovers’ prominent racing style and Wine Dark Sea’s suitability to the distance highlighted as key factors.
- Odds, draw and betting predictions for the 2026 Melbourne Cup
- "The race that stops a nation" takes place at Flemington on November 3rd
- We've backed Sons And Lovers and Wine Dark Sea at huge prices
Horse racing's most valuable handicap takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, as a capacity field of 24 enters the stalls ahead of the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
Millions of racing fans from around the world will tune in to watch "the race that stops a nation". Here's our free guide to the 2026 Melbourne Cup, including our best betting tips.
2026 Melbourne Cup Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Point Of Law | 6/1 |
| Trustyourinstinct | 7/1 |
| Hopewell Rock | 10/1 |
| Shockletz | 10/1 |
| Juja Kibo | 14/1 |
| James J Braddock | 14/1 |
| Middle Earth | 16/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
2026 Melbourne Cup Tip 1 - Sons And Lovers
He might be carrying top weight, but I do think SONS AND LOVERS (25/1) has been massively overlooked in the Melbourne Cup betting.
Joseph O'Brien's five-year-old landed a valuable handicap out in Saudi Arabia last winter, where Dylan Browne McMonagle's mount held firm to deny Tabletalk in the Red Sea Turf Handicap. Sons And Lovers has run five times during the regular season, winning the Group Two Prix Maurice de Nieuil at Longchamp in July while also running with great credit in the Dubai Gold Cup and the Hardwicke Stakes.
Sons And Lovers finished four lengths adrift of two future Group One winners at Meydan. O'Brien's gelding was beaten by a similar margin in a red-hot renewal of the Hardwicke, with Group One winners Kalpana and Goliath crossing the line just ahead of the 50/1 outsider. O'Brien's charge ran a mighty race again on his most recent outing at Leopardstown, finishing second in the Group Three Kilternan Stakes behind Arabian Crown, who has also since collected Group One honours out in Canada.
Despite those massive performances against top-level performers, Sons And Lovers is only rated four pounds higher than when he won the Red Sea Turf. McMonagle takes the ride, and a low draw in stall three should be ideal for a horse who breaks well and likes to be ridden prominently.
2026 Melbourne Cup Draw
| Stall | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Earth |
| 2 | Knight's Choice |
| 3 | Sons And Lovers |
| 4 | Strictly Business |
| 5 | Soul Of Spain |
| 6 | Asterix |
| 7 | So You Are |
| 8 | Enfjaar |
| 9 | Point Of Law |
| 10 | Zakouma |
| 11 | Zahrann |
| 12 | Future History |
| 13 | Onesmoothoperator |
| 14 | Juja Kibo |
| 15 | Hopewell Rock |
| 16 | Mr Monaco |
| 17 | Shockletz |
| 18 | Trustyourinstinct |
| 19 | Goodie Two Shoes |
| 20 | Kizlyar |
| 21 | Royal Supremacy |
| 22 | Vauban |
| 23 | Wine Dark Sea |
| 24 | James J Braddock |
2026 Melbourne Cup Tip 2 - Wine Dark Sea
WINE DARK SEA (40/1) was cut adrift in the Melbourne Cup betting after a tame performance in the Caulfield Cup, but I think there's every reason to expect a much-improved performance from Harry Charlton's raider at Flemington.
Going into the Caulfield Cup, I feared that a mile and a half would be on the sharp side for Wine Dark Sea. Charlton's four-year-old broke well from his wide draw and travelled comfortably behind a moderate pace. Entering the final bend, the pace picked up markedly. Damian Lane committed turning for home, but that move proved to be a little premature, as Wine Dark Sea was swamped at the two-furlong pole and wasn't given a hard time of things late on.
Stepping back up in trip should really suit Wine Dark Sea, who produced a career-best effort to win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes on his most recent start on home soil. Lane will have to navigate a wide draw once again, but the distance will suit, and Wine Dark Sea is handicapped well enough to challenge.
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Verdict
2026 Melbourne Cup Selections:
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