The 2025 Melbourne Cup has arrived and all eyes will be on Flemington as 24 of the world's premier stayers compete for one of thoroughbred racing's most coveted prizes.
A truly global race, formlines from all over are coming together to make for a compelling mix, giving punters plenty to think about.
Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa looks set to fight it out for favouritism with Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours, but there are plenty of winning chances in another open edition of the two-mile showdown.
Melbourne Cup runners guide
1. Al Riffa
Weight/Barrier: 59kg/19
The top weight for a reason and 5/1 favourite on bet365. Two-time Cup-winning trainer Joseph O'Brien joins forces with two-time Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra. A star Irish stayer with two Group 1 wins over 2816m. The question marks will be the weight (59kg), a wet track and the distance, but he's got the quality to overcome them.
Verdict: Would need everything to go right from the wide barrier
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2. Buckaroo
Weight/Barrier: 57kg/12
Honest and consistent, placing four times in four starts this preparation. Finished ninth in the Melbourne Cup last year when carrying 54.5kg but is in better form and appreciates some give in the ground. Chris Waller and Craig Williams a big tick.
Verdict: Confident he'll run a strong race but distance may get him
3. Arapaho
Weight/Barrier: 56.5kg/15
Not going well this preparation but has a Sydney Cup win over 3200m on his record and will be given a boost by the wet track. Nine years old the major query but will be fitter than some of these.
Verdict: Outside place hope at best
4. Vauban
Weight/Barrier: 56.5kg/2
A frustrating horse for the punters. Two starts near the top of the market for a 14th and 11th in this race the past two years. Can stay all day, on his day, but you never quite know if he'll turn up. Can figure if he gets a nice run from barrier two and Blake Shinn knows how to do that.
Verdict: Tough to back with any confidence
5. Chevalier Rose
Weight/Barrier: 55.5kg/5
Japanese stayer who has won with 58kg over 3600m. Would prefer a firmer track, hasn't raced since August and his form prior wasn't particularly inspiring.
Verdict: Would need to improve several lengths to feature
6. Presage Nocturn
Weight/Barrier: 55.5kg/9
A tough Frenchman coming off an impressive closing fourth in the Caulfield Cup. Will enjoy the softer track and has a nice barrier. If jockey Stephane Pasquier can keep him out of trouble, he should figure. What do they say about greys in the wet?
Verdict: Winning chance
7. Middle Earth
Weight/Barrier: 54.5kg/13
European import who is now guided by Ciaron Maher. His Caulfield Cup run wasn't much to crow about but should appreciate the jump in distance and give in the track. Needs to find something.
Verdict: One for exotics at best
8. Meydaan
Weight/Barrier: 54kg/22
You'd never write off a son of Frankel with James McDonald on board. Battled on strongly after some bad luck and an ordinary ride in the Caulfield Cup. Another who looks like he'll run out the trip and relish softer conditions under foot.
Verdict: Each-way chance
9. Absurde
Weight/Barrier: 53.5kg/4
A third crack at the Melbourne Cup for this Irish-trained stayer. Hasn't been disgraced with efforts of seventh and fifth. Trainer Willie Mullins is hoping for a first Cup win and opted to run him in the Caulfield Cup this time around, with plenty to like about his race. At eight years old, can he improve enough?
Verdict: Each-way chance
10. Flatten The Curve
Weight/Barrier: 53.5kg/17
A German stayer who has been all over the world and won all the way up to 3700m. Has gone to another level following a recent trainer change and likes the wet. The jockey - Thore Hammer-Hansen - hasn't ridden a Cup before and that can be the difference.
Verdict: Should be in the top half
11. Land Legend
Weight/Barrier: 53.5kg/16
Eighth in this race last year when well fancied. Has lost a leg since then to finish last in his past two starts, including a shocker in the Caulfield Cup. Doesn't look like the horse to give star jockey Joao Moreira an elusive Melbourne Cup
Verdict: Could improve lengths and still not place
12. Smokin' Romans
Weight/Barrier: 53.5kg/11
Nine years old and seemingly with his best behind him. Wet track, barrier and Ben Melham aboard are positives but even that's not enough to back him.
Verdict: Top 10 chance if everything goes right
13. Changingoftheguard
Weight/Barrier: 53kg/24
Owner Lloyd Williams has seven Melbourne Cup winners under his belt but this looks a tall order. Was ordinary last time out in the Geelong Cup and starts from the carpark.
Verdict: Will find most of these too good
14. Half Yours
Weight/Barrier: 53kg/8
Expected to jump to favourite come 3pm on Tuesday. Was impressive in winning the Caulfield Cup last time out and jockey Jamie Melham is confident the five-year-old will handle the trip despite never having run beyond 2400m. Australian-bred but has soft track form so don't be scared off by any rain.
Verdict: Winning chance
15. More Felons
Weight/Barrier: 53kg/23
Run 12th from barrier 23 in this race in 2023 and has drawn wide again this time around. While his recent form doesn't look all that impressive on paper, has made plenty of ground in his past two outings and should improve. Has won on soft tracks.
Verdict: Among the better hopes at big odds - place chance
16. Onesmoothoperator
Weight/Barrier: 53kg/6
Was just okay in running 12th last year on the back of a big Geelong Cup win and hasn't done a whole lot since then, bar a victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time out, but the competition wasn't great and you can't expect him to find too much more at eight years old.
Verdict: Wouldn't back with any confidence this year
17. Further
Weight/Barrier: 52kg/7
The baby of the race. A Northerm Hemisphere three-year-old who gets in with a light weight despite having won over 2715m and finished second over 2816m. Yet to run in Australia which may scare some off but the formula has proven successful with Rekindling (2017) and Cross Counter (2018)
Verdict: Each-way chance
18. Parchment Party
Weight/Barrier: 52kg/3
Trying to line up this American's form isn't easy. The first US-trained horse to have a crack at the Melbourne Cup. His trainer is a legend and his jockey is among their best, although he's making his debut here as well. Most of his form has been on dirt tracks so we don't know how he'll go on grass, particularly if it's a bit wet.
Verdict: Too many question marks
19. Athabascan
Weight/Barrier: 51.5kg/1
Hasn't looked all that likely in his time in Australia but did improve to finish second in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2500m. Will likely find the competition here too strong
Verdict: Leave him out of the multiples
20. Goodie Two Shoes
Weight/Barrier: 51.5kg/20
Another Irish stayer with some solid wins to suggest the two miles won't be a problem. Isn't Joseph O'Brien's main hope so may have been brought out to roll forward and ensure a solid tempo for Al Riffa behind it. One of two mares in the race.
Verdict: Prefer others
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21. River Of Stars
Weight/Barrier: 51.5kg/14
The other mare in the race and looks to be the more fancied option. Light weight, good barrier and has turned in some promising performances to suggest she's up for this, most notably a close second to Cup favourite Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago.
Verdict: Winning chance
22. Royal Supremacy
Weight/Barrier: 51kg/21
Purchased by Yulong and joined the Ciaron Maher stable with this race in mind. A win in The Metropolitan and fifth in the Caulfield Cup show he's going well but, having been in work since May, will be due a breather. Wide barrier but Robbie Dolan's ride on Knight's Choice last year will give him confidence.
Verdict: One for the multiples but will need luck
23. Torranzino
Weight/Barrier: 52kg/18
Last-start winner in the Geelong Cup after a second in The Bart Cummings. Going okay and should be capable of running out the trip but mightn't have the quality to go with the best.
Verdict: Outside place chance
24. Valiant King
Weight/Barrier: 51kg/10
Finished 13th in the race last year but is going far better this time around. Won The Bart Cummings and then ran on strongly to finish third in the Caulfield Cup from way back. Can he stay the two miles this time or will history repeat?
Verdict: Each-way chance
Melbourne Cup bests bets and prediction
AllSportsPeople top tips for the 2025 Melbourne Cup:
- 6. Presage Nocturn
- 8. Meydaan
- 24. Valiant King
Value bet: 15. More Felons
Melbourne Cup odds, barriers for final 2025 field
| Runner (Barrier) | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
| 1. Al Riffa (19) | Mark Zahra | Joseph O'Brien | 5/1 |
| 2. Buckaroo (12) | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | 8/1 |
| 3. Arapaho (15) | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker | 40/1 |
| 4. Vauban (2) | Blake Shinn | G Waterhouse & A Bott | 20/1 |
| 5. Chevalier Rose (5) | Damian Lane | Hisashi Shimizu | 33/1 |
| 6. Presage Nocturn (9) | Stephane Pasquier | Alessandro Botti | 7/1 |
| 7. Middle Earth (13) | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher | 40/1 |
| 8. Meydaan (22) | James McDonald | Simon & E Crisford | 20/1 |
| 9. Absurde (4) | Kerrin McEvoy | Willie Mullins | 16/1 |
| 10. Flatten The Curve (17) | Thore Hammer Hansen | Henk Grewe | 18/1 |
| 11. Land Legend (16) | Joao Moreira | Chris Waller | 50/1 |
| 12. Smokin' Romans (11) | Ben Melham | Ciaron Maher | 66/1 |
| 13. Changingoftheguard (24) | Tim Clark | Kris Lees | 66/1 |
| 14. Half Yours (8) | Jamie Melham | Tony & C McEvoy | 6/1 |
| 15. More Felons (23) | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller | 50/1 |
| 16. Onesmoothoperator (6) | Harry Coffey | Brian Ellison | 28/1 |
| 17. Further (7) | Michael Dee | Andrew Balding | 22/1 |
| 18. Parchment Party (3) | John Velazquez | William Mott | 50/1 |
| 19. Athabascan (1) | Declan Bates | J O'Shea & T Charlton | 80/1 |
| 20. Goodie Two Shoes (20) | Wayne Lordan | Joseph O'Brien | 33/1 |
| 21. River Of Stars (14) | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 14/1 |
| 22. Royal Supremacy (21) | Robbie Dolan | Ciaron Maher | 25/1 |
| 23. Torranzino (18) | Celine Gaudray | Paul Preusker | 33/1 |
| 24. Valiant King (10) | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller | 7/1 |