Melbourne Cup Beginners Guide

Melbourne Cup Beginners Guide



The first Tuesday in November may represent just another day on the British sporting calendar. However, things are a little different down under, with this date in the diary signalling one of the standout moments of the Australian sporting year. In terms of the Aussie horse racing scene, it simply doesn’t get any bigger than this, with the historic Melbourne Cup effectively being the Australian equivalent of the Aintree Grand National in terms of widespread public interest, prestige, and huge betting turnover.

Widely referred to as “The Race That Stops A Nation”, those in the Melbourne locale, much of the wider Victoria region, and all public servants are granted an official Public Holiday to take in the race, which serves as the headline act at the week-long Melbourne Spring Carnival. Elsewhere in the nation, a widespread epidemic of sick days suggests many Australians take an unofficial public holiday of their own.

What is the Melbourne Cup?

First run back in 1861, this 2m flat handicap is the jewel in the crown of the beautiful Flemington racecourse and the event that all Australian trainers – and those from much further afield – want to win. A big part of that appeal is the astronomical A$8 million in prize money on offer - A$4.4 million of which goes to the winner. That total prize pool translates to around £4.8 million, making the Melbourne Cup the richest handicap contest on the planet and amongst the most valuable turf races of any description.

Who Runs in the Race?

The event is open to runners age three and older, be they colts, fillies, mares, or geldings. With a maximum field of 24, those runners with the highest rating will make the final cut, in addition to the winners of 13 guaranteed “win and your in” qualifying contests, which include the Doncaster Cup and Irish St. Leger.

The weights carried on the day are determined by the handicapper of the Victoria Racing Club using Quality Handicap criteria; the more talented the horse, the more weight they carry. Official ratings are part of the process, but other factors are considered, including age and previous performance in similar events. Overall, the process is very similar to that employed when assigning weights ahead of the Grand National.

In comparison to a standard handicap, the most talented runners tend to be less stringently penalised under Quality Handicap conditions, with the aim of attracting a higher class of horse. Expect to see a host of Group 1 winners amongst the field, including contenders previously sighted in the British and Irish Classics.

An International Affair

The Aussies are never easy to beat on their own turf and boast the best overall record in their flagship event. Nevertheless, there is almost always a strong international flavour to the race, and the raiders have been known to upset the locals and plunder the prize.

Dermot Weld was the first Northern Hemisphere-based trainer to win when sending out Vintage Crop in 1993. Dermot has since been joined by fellow Irishman Joseph O’Brien, who won in 2017 and 2020. British, French, German, and Japanese runners also feature on the 21st Century roll of honour.

One of the Most Watched and Bet-on Races in the World

Over 250,000 racegoers flock to Flemington racecourse over the course of the Spring Carnival, with Melbourne Cup Day regularly seeing a crowd north of 100,000. Added to that number are over 2.5 million TV viewers in Australia, in addition to millions more around the world.

That interest extends into the betting turnover, with Aussie punters placing 200-250 million Australian dollars worth of bets on the big race each year – not quite so much as the £300 million attracted by the Aintree Grand National, but then Britain’s population is more than double that of Australia.

Aussie Bet Types

The menu of betting choices available to Australian punters is much like our own, with the following wager types attracting much of the cash:

  • Win - A straight bet on the horse to win
  • Each Way - Two equally staked bets. One on the horse to win, and another to finish in the placed positions
  • Place - A single bet on the horse to finish in the placed positions

For the more adventurous, what are known as Exotic Bets are also available:

  • Exacta - Pick the first and second-placed finishers in the correct order. The equivalent of a straight forecast bet
  • Quinella - Pick two horses which must finish first and second in any order. The equivalent of the UK Reverse Forecast bet
  • Trifecta - Pick the first, second, and third in the correct order. The equivalent of a straight tricast bet
  • Boxed Quinella/Trifecta - This involves selecting three or more runners and covering all possible permutations of forecasts and tricasts. The equivalent of a combination forecast or tricast
  • First Four - As the name suggests, this requires you to predict the first four finishers in the correct order. Tough to do, but the bet almost guarantees a decent payday if you are correct

Betting on the Melbourne Cup in the UK

Much like the Breeders Cup, Dubai World Cup, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Melbourne Cup is a major international event. As such, the race benefits from extensive coverage at the best new betting sites and established British-based bookmakers. Simply navigate to the horse racing section of your favourite site, head to the daily races list on the day of the event, or the International Racing or Ante Post sections in advance, and place your bets. The last items on the list are to ensure you are fully stocked with coffee and set that alarm clock for the 4 a.m. start time.


More Betting Guides:

What is a Saver Bet and when to use one?

Tote Bet Types Explained

Rule 4 Deductions Explained

Top 20 Betting Offers

Betfred
Betfred
Bet £10 and get £50 in Free BetsClaim Offer

New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £50 in free bets. 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.

Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim
Money Back Free Bet up to £40Claim Offer

New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

Bet365
Bet365
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free BetsClaim Offer

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Bresbet
Bresbet
Bet £10 Get a £10 Free BetClaim Offer

T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. £10 Free bet will be credited once the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account.

William Hill
William Hill
Deposit & Bet £10 to get £60 Free BetClaim Offer

18+. Play Safe. New customers only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Full T&Cs apply. #ad

Bzeebet
Bzeebet
Bet £10, Get a £10 Free BetClaim Offer

18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply

talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET
Get up to £40 in Football Free BetsClaim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile device, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free BetsClaim Offer

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply.

Midnite
Midnite
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free BetsClaim Offer

New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org

Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free betsClaim Offer
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
Copybet
Copybet
Bet £10, Get £50 in Free BetsClaim Offer

New UK customers only. Qualifying bet should be a Single or Accumulator bet, min stake £10, and min odds 1.9. Get £50 in Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2.0 include: 1 x £10 Free bet for horse racing, 1 x £10 Free bet on football, 2 x 10 Free bet In-play, 1 x £10 Free bet Acca (min 3 selections). To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app. Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. 18+. Begambleaware.org

10bet
10bet
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50Claim Offer

New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+

Unibet
Unibet
Bet £10 Get £40 in BonusesClaim Offer

18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply. #AD

Bet442
Bet442
Bet £20 Get £10 in Free betsClaim Offer

18+. New customers only. Min deposit £20. Max One £10 Free Bet. Min turnover £20. Qualifying Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with Min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. T&Cs apply.

Spreadex
Spreadex
Bet £25 Get £50 in Free BetsClaim Offer

New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply.

Betway
Betway
£30 Matched Free BetClaim Offer

New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply

Highbet
Highbet
Bet £10, Get £20 Free Bets + 20 Free SpinsClaim Offer

New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

MyriadPlay
MyriadPlay
Bet £15 Get £15Claim Offer

New customers only. Min deposit £10. Max one £15 Free Bet. Min Turnover £15 to qualify. Qualifying bets must be at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.

Betrino
Betrino
Bet £25 Get £50 in Free BetsClaim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £50, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.

Quinnbet
Quinnbet
50% Bonus up to £50Claim Offer

Deposit and bet on any sportsbook markets of your choice at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first days losses as a Free Bet up to £50 plus 50 Free Spins. Min. 3 bets required. If your account is up, you’ll receive a £5 Free Bet regardless plus 10 Free Spins. Use coupon code "5050" at registration. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | GambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly