The 2016 Melbourne Cup is almost upon and betting for ‘the race that stops a nation’ is really starting to heat up.
Hartnell has been at the top of the 2016 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes since he recorded a dominant victory in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2 and he is currently available at a quote of $5.
He was no match for Winx in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, but punters are confident that he can bounce back from that defeat and deliver Godolphin a maiden Melbourne Cup victory.
Godolphin also have the second favourite in the form of Oceanographer, who stormed into Melbourne Cup calculations with his outstanding victory in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
His European form is below that of the other horses in this field, but he has proven he has adjusted to Australian conditions and he clearly relishes the Flemington straight.
Caulfield Cup winner Jameka has been a slight drifter in the 2016 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes, but she still remains on the third line of betting at a quote of $8.50.
Jameka has been in outstanding form during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and she has a genuine chance of becoming the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double.
The only other horse that is available at single-figures is Bondi Beach, who has been one of the best-backed runners in the past 24 hours.
Bondi Beach does not have the strongest European form, but the Cup has been his target all year long and he will be partnered by star hoop Ryan Moore who heads to Australia after he took out the Tenno Sho in Japan on Maurice over the weekend.
The current market mover in the Melbourne Cup market with Ladbrokes is Qewy, who has been backed from $26 into $21.
Qewy led from start to finish to take out the Geelong Cup and jockey Craig Williams will employ similar tactics in the Melbourne Cup.
Other horses that have been supported in the past 24 hours include Wicklow Brave ($19 into $16), Almoonqith ($26 into $21), Almandin ($16 into $14) and Grey Lion ($41 into $34).
