Melbourne Cup 2026: Field, barrier draw, form guide and betting

The leading chances for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup have enjoyed mixed fortunes at the barrier draw this evening.

Point Of Law retains favouritism after coming up with barrier 9, while a draw of 18 has prompted a slight drift for Irish runner Trustyourinstinct, who'll be partnered by James McDonald fresh off a four-timer on Derby Day.

Explore our interactive form guide to all the horses set to line up in the 166th Melbourne Cup.

The honour of topweight this year goes to Sons And Lovers, one of five horses in the race for Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien who won the Cup with Rekindling in 2017.

A consistent stayer across his 19-start career, Sons And Lovers began 2026 with a narrow victory over 3,000 metres in Saudi Arabia, and in July claimed the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (2,800m) in Paris where he took the lead from the start and refused to be passed.

The six-year-old rounded off his Cup preparations with a second in the Kilternan Stakes (2,414m) in Ireland; behind him that day were stablemates and fellow Cup rivals James J Braddock and Goodie Two Shoes.

Sons And Lovers has the services of Dylan Browne McMonagle, whose initial Cup mount Defiantly was withdrawn by stewards on Saturday after failing a vet inspection.

Trustyourinstinct is a winner of two races this year in his native Ireland, including the Curragh Cup (2,816m) where he defeated one-time 2025 Cup favourite Al Riffa.

His final run before heading Down Under was a well-held fourth when no match for star stayer Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger (2,816m) in September.

Trustyourinstinct seems to produce his best when he's held up for a final sprint, and he'll have no better jockey than James McDonald to present him at the right time on Tuesday.

McDonald, a winner aboard Verry Elleegant in 2020, will be sporting the famous green and yellow silks of JP McManus, whose major victories include the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National.

Knight's Choice and his singing jockey Robbie Dolan landed a shock victory at $91 in 2024 and they're back for an encore; note that only the great Peter Pan (1932, 1934) has won non-consecutive Cups.

The now seven-year-old had been sidelined by injury after his famous Cup triumph, but he looked to be getting back into form with a close third behind the well-rated Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m) on October 10.

However he was never a factor in an incident-packed Caulfield Cup (2,400m) a week later, finishing 14th behind Kingswood beaten 10 lengths.

Improvement is expected back to Flemington but once again Knight's Choice will be an outsider — anyone else sensing some déjà vu?

Middle Earth (insert Tolkien reference here) finished third for Ciaron Maher last year and has been building towards a second Cup tilt with five unplaced runs this campaign.

The seven-year-old made ground from well back in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) to finish ninth, beaten 5.4 lengths behind Kingswood, Saint George and Enfjaar.

A week later he had his final Cup lead-up with a seven-length eight behind Cosmic Crusader in the Cox Plate (2,040m).

Middle Earth wasn't suited by the race shape on that occasion and is much better preferred back to a 3,200-metre handicap in the hands of two-time Cup winner Mark Zahra (Gold Trip 2022, Without A Fight 2023).

Punters know this former Irish-trained galloper well, as he's helped them part with their money in the past three Melbourne Cups (14th 2023, 11th 2024, sixth 2025).

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have given Vauban a more European preparation for this year's race, having just the one run since his third in the Doomben Cup (2,000m) in May.

Just under a fortnight ago Vauban was only fair when ninth, beaten 6.2 lengths, behind Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup (2,400m).

He'll derive extra fitness from that run and appreciate any give in the surface on Tuesday as he attempts to become the first nine-year-old to win the Cup.

The winner of five from 17 starts, the English-trained Enfjaar only had his first test over a staying trip in August, reaching a career peak when leading all the way in the Glorious Stakes (2,412m) at Goodwood.

One runner behind him that day, Opportunity, has formlines through Cup contender Hopewell Rock, who has form tied to Small Fry, who ran a strong second to Cup favourite Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup (2,400m) — still with me?

At his first Australian appearance Enfjaar took up a handy position and fought bravely in the straight to finish third behind Kingswood in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) and ahead of eventual Cox Plate winner Cosmic Crusader.

Provided he can see out the extra distance on Tuesday, Enfjaar should give a good showing for trainer Roger Varian, whose previous Cup runner My Ambivalent finished 17th in 2014.

Royal Supremacy will certainly appreciate any rain to soften the track in his bid to improve on a 15th-place finish in last year's Cup.

The six-year-old ended his last campaign with a dominant all-the-way win in Brisbane's rich Q22 (2,200m) ahead of Melbourne Cup winners Half Yours and Knight's Choice.

The signs were good when he again led from start to finish in the JRA Cup (2,000m) in September, but he blotted his copybook using the same tactics in Caulfield Cup (2,400m) when he weakened noticeably to finish 15th, beaten 17 lengths by Kingswood.

Punters rate Royal Supremacy the outsider of trainer Ciaron Maher's seven runners, and he'll be a second Melbourne Cup ride for Ben Allen, who finished sixth aboard Thomas Hobson in 2017.

The prize for the most eye-catching jockey silks certainly goes to Wine Dark Sea, the design of which is the brainchild of his majority owner, Brisbane roofer Sonny Glebe.

Wine Dark Sea won three of four starts in England this year, including the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2,671m) when he made all from the front and lowered the colours of the highly regarded Dubai Honour, a regular visitor (and winner) Down Under.

At his first Australian appearance in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m), Wine Dark Sea was forced to race wide early and hit the front rounding the turn but weakened in the closing stages to finish 11th, beaten 6.6 lengths, behind Kingswood and Cup rival Enfjaar.

The lightly raced five-year-old will likely derive a fitness benefit from the outing and has the services of Damian Lane, who is searching for his first Cup win.

Asterix's only start over 3,200 metres was a fourth in the 2024 Auckland Cup before he crossed the Tasman to join the stable of 2021 Cup winner Chris Waller.

Fast-forward to 2026 and Asterix scored three victories at Group and Listed level last campaign, but so far this spring his best performance was a third behind Cup rival Zahrann in the Naturalism Stakes (2,000m).

Asterix was a distant last on a heavy track behind Cosmic Crusader in the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m), and then made minor headway from the back of the field when 12th, beaten 7.1 lengths, behind Kingswood in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

The punters aren't giving this veteran much of a chance, and history looms against him as only three eight-year-olds (Toryboy 1865, Catalogue 1938 and Twilight Payment 2020) have won the great race.

Goodie Two Shoes has only had four runs since her brave second behind Half Yours in last year's Cup when a $41 chance for Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Racing in the famous green and yellow silks of JP McManus, she scored a narrow victory in the Lillie Langtry Stakes (2,816m) at Goodwood in August.

But the eight-year-old then raced well below her best and trailed the field behind Cup rivals Sons And Lovers and James J Braddock in the Kilternan Stakes (2,414m). Nevertheless she has made the trip Down Under.

Goodie Two Shoes is being asked to carry 3.5kg more than last year, and to her credit, of the 50 mares to run in the Cup since 2005, she is one of only three — High Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) being the others — to have finished top three.

Juja Kibo is one of the leading hopes for trainer Ciaron Maher who has seven lining up this year to emulate his success with Gold Trip in 2022.

The six-year-old comes into Tuesday's race on the back of successive wins, the first of which was a dominant victory in The Metropolitan (2,400m) where he defeated the likes of Cup rival Soul Of Spain.

He then finished over the top of Cup rivals Mr Monaco and Strictly Business to claim the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) and punch his golden ticket into the Cup.

Juja Kibo is being kept safe in the market and will be partnered again by Sam Clipperton, whose only Cup ride to date was eighth aboard Stockman in 2022.

This lightly raced five-year-old worked his way through lower-level staying races in England before winning a handicap over 2,816 metres at Goodwood, defeating one-time Cup contender Small Fry.

Small Fry would go on to frank that form when runner-up to Cup favourite Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup (2,400m).

Hopewell Rock's form also lines up well out of his close second in the time-honoured Ebor Handicap (2,786m) at York; alongside him that day was Opportunity, which finished behind Enfjaar at Goodwood. Enfjaar would later run a strong third in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

While he is yet to be tested over the 3,200 metres, Hopewell Rock can handle rain-affected ground and there's plenty of money to suggest he'll give a forward showing with young gun Zac Lloyd in the saddle.

This former English-trained galloper is making his third attempt at the Cup after finishing 12th in 2024 and 16th last year.

A previous winner of the Geelong Cup (2024) and Moonee Valley Cup (2025), Onesmoothoperator's jockey could offer no excuses when he finished 11th, 9.4 lengths behind Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup (2,400m) almost a fortnight ago.

It didn't appear to be the run of a coming Melbourne Cup winner, and Onesmoothoperator will need to create history as no nine-year-old has won the race in its 166-year history.

But win, lose or draw, it'll be a memorable first Cup runner for Bendigo-based trainer Tim Fitzsimmons, who took over the training of Onesmoothoperator less than a year ago.

This Chris Waller-trained galloper finished second in the Sydney Cup in the autumn at his only attempt at 3,200 metres, but his form this campaign doesn't seem to be quite at the same level.

Soul Of Spain finished seventh, beaten 6.5 lengths, behind Juja Kibo in The Metropolitan (2,400m) in Sydney before running eighth in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

He settled well back in a slowly run race that day, and made a bold mid-race move to sit outside the leaders before tiring in the straight to finish 4.7 lengths behind Kingswood.

Soul Of Spain's connections will be hoping the likelihood of a wet track will help his chances, but he remains an outsider as top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry continues to search for his first Cup victory.

Zahrann was highly rated in Ireland when purchased by Australian interests and shipped to the Ciaron Maher stable as a potential Cups horse.

The five-year-old looked on track to justify that aim when scoring a dominant win over one-time Cup contender Saint George in the Naturalism Stakes (2,000m).

And despite a well-beaten 11th on a bog track behind Cosmic Crusader in the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m), Zahrann was sent out as second favourite in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) and settled well back before making steady ground without threatening to finish 3.9 lengths behind Kingswood in fourth.

Ben Melham takes the ride, hoping to go one better than his second aboard Johannes Vermeer in 2017.

There will be few fitter horses on Tuesday than this grinding stayer, who comes into the Cup after four wins on the bounce.

So You Are's winning streak began in the Tatts Cup (2,400m) at Randwick and was followed by victory in the Colin Stephen Quality (2,400m) at Rosehill.

Then the step up to 2,600 metres of the ATC St Leger proved no issue, before a perfect ride from Rachel King helped him salute in the Bendigo Cup (2,400m) last Wednesday.

While So You Are hasn't been racing against the elite level, expect King to have him positioned up near the lead where he won't go down without a fight — and he won't be afraid of a wet track either.

Future History squeaked into the field after other runners were forced to withdraw due to fitness concerns; their loss is Jamie Melham's gain as she now has a chance to emulate her victory last year aboard Half Yours.

Future History has been running OK without winning since joining the Greg Hickman stable at the start of the year, with his best result a second to Cup rival Royal Supremacy in the JRA Plate (2,000m) in September.

Since then he's finished fourth behind Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m) and ninth, beaten 3.6 lengths, behind Cup rivals Juja Kibo and Mr Monaco in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m).

One of three nine-year-olds in this year's race, Future History finished 15th behind Without A Fight in the 2023 Cup at his only attempt at 3,200 metres.

Named after the world heavyweight boxing champion of the 1930s (and inspiration for the Russell Crowe movie Cinderella Man), plenty of punters feel James J Braddock and jockey Craig Williams can deliver a knockout blow on Tuesday.

A third in the English Derby (2,420m) reflected trainer Joseph O'Brien's high opinion of James J Braddock, but he then disappointed when a distanced sixth in the Irish Derby (2,414m).

His latest performance showed a glimpse that he might appreciate the 3,200 metres, staying on strongly before not seeing much room in the closing stages of the Kilternan Stakes (2,414m) in Ireland.

The formula of bringing well-performed Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds to Australia for the Cup has proven successful, evidenced by the likes of Rekindling (1st, 2017), Cross Counter (1st, 2018), Il Paradiso (3rd, 2019) and Tiger Moth (2nd, 2020).

Kizlyar was a late inclusion in the Cup field at the expense of his well-fancied stablemate Defiantly, who failed to pass a vet inspection and was withdrawn by the stewards on Saturday.

He actually lowered Defiantly's colours after a stirring battle down the straight at Royal Ascot over 4,013 metres, and then finished second in the Irish St Leger Trial (2,816m) in August.

But Kizlyar raced well below expectations at his Australian debut when beaten almost four lengths behind Cup rivals Juja Kibo and Mr Monaco in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) a week ago.

His record shows that Tuesday's distance is of no concern, but he'll need to improve sharply to reverse the disappointment of last start.

The second of two Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds in this year's Cup, Point Of Law surged to the top of betting following a victory in the Geelong Cup (2,400m) that impressed ratings experts.

It was his Australian debut for trainer Ciaron Maher after being purchased in August from King Charles who bred and raced him to a fourth at Royal Ascot over 2,846 metres and a victory in the Bahrain Trophy (2,615m) at Newmarket.

European three-year-olds on an upward trajectory have featured prominently in the past decade, namely Rekindling (1st, 2017), Cross Counter (1st, 2018), Il Paradiso (3rd, 2019) and Tiger Moth (2nd, 2020).

Ethan Brown stays on board, and many people think he's a great chance to at least emulate his third place aboard Middle Earth last year in his only Cup ride to date.

Strictly Business has won two races in her career, and none since her famous Victoria Oaks (2,500m) triumph at Flemington almost a year ago.

In the autumn she added a second place in the South Australian Derby (2,518m) to her resume, but the mare has struggled racing against open-class horses this spring.

The four-year-old struggled to make ground when 12th, beaten 10 lengths, behind Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m), and then finished last of 16 behind Juja Kibo in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) a week ago.

A sharp turnaround in form will be needed for Strictly Business to figure on Tuesday. It's worth noting that of the 50 mares to run in the Cup since 2005, only three — Goodie Two Shoes (2025), High Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) — have finished top three.

The possibility of a rain-affected track won't bother this former English-trained gelding, who's another of Ciaron Maher's seven-strong attack on the Cup.

Mr Monaco won his way into the great race with victory in the Bart Cummings (2,500m) in early October, and then was far from disgraced when a close third to stablemate and Cup rival Juja Kibo in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m).

He'll get a 2kg weight advantage on Juja Kibo on Tuesday in his bid to improve on his only previous run at 3,200 metres, which was a disappointing 11th behind Changingoftheguard and Soul Of Spain in the Sydney Cup.

Mr Monaco will be a first Cup ride for 20-year-old Jabez Johnstone, who's looking to become the first apprentice jockey to win the Cup since 15-year-old Ray Neville saluted aboard Rimfire in 1948.

This stoutly bred six-year-old secured his spot in the Cup with victory in the Andrew Ramsden (2,800m) at Flemington in May.

Zakouma's spring campaign has therefore been designed for him to peak on Tuesday; he closed off strongly for sixth behind Zahrann in the Naturalism Stakes (2,000m) and was fifth behind Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m).

Ignore his last of 11 behind Surfin' Bird in the Crystal Mile a week ago over 1,600 metres; that's well below his best distance and the run was nothing more than a maintenance gallop to have him primed for his grand final.

Trainer Grahame Begg has engaged the services of West Australian wizard William Pike, who is riding high after his Cox Plate victory aboard Cosmic Crusader a week ago.

Shockletz's dominant victory in the Archer Stakes (2,500m) in September booked her place in the Cup field, one of seven runners for trainer Ciaron Maher.

Her two runs since then have been about having her primed to peak on Tuesday; she recorded good closing sectionals when sixth behind Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m), and then a fast-finishing second to Soverato in the Tesio Stakes (2,040m) cemented her place among the leading contenders.

Shockletz will have to buck history to a degree; of the 50 mares to run in the Cup since 2005, only three — Goodie Two Shoes (2025), High Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) — have finished top three.

But she will have the benefit of the low weight of 51kg, which her sire Shocking also carried to Cup glory in 2009 in the same colours of owner Laurence Eales.