18+ | Please play responsibly | Chances are you’re about to lose. | Terms and Conditions apply | Commercial content

Melbourne Cup 2022: Favourite Horse

The Melbourne Cup 2022 is the biggest betting race in Australia, It is also popular for betting in other parts of the world including the UK. There are a number of qualifying races that ensure the best possible field. The winners of these races are often prominent in the betting. 

The Melbourne Cup is a handicap which means horses are allocated a weight based on their past form. There are significant changes in the betting once the weights have been announced. In the days leading up to the Melbourne Cup the betting market develops. There are moves for fancied horses and then a vast amount of race day betting.

Melbourne Cup 2022 : Our Top 3 Horses to Watch

3 horses to watchOperatorsCheck now
TBAbet365VISIT SITE
TBALadbrokesVISIT SITE
TBAbet365VISIT SITE

Melbourne Cup 2022 Betting

The maximum field for the Melbourne Cup is 24 runners (have a look at the Melbourne Cup horses running this year).  The final field is reduced from an initial entry of 300 to 400 horses.  The race is a handicap which means the standard place terms are one quarter the odds for the first four places.

The Melbourne Cup 2022 is one of the biggest races in the world so some bookmakers may offer non-runner/ no bet in the weeks leading up to the race. The race time is not betting friendly for bettors in the UK due to the time difference.  However, there is always plenty of ante-post betting and a big turnover on the day of the race. The Melbourne Cup 2022 is shown live on television and that encourages betting. For more information about the betting trends, read the Melbourne Cup betting trends.

Bookmakers will probably introduce some concessions related to the Melbourne Cup. There could be enhanced odds for selected horses and extra places. At this stage, it is unclear whether bookmakers will offer Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG). 

Customers who take an early board price on a horse with a different Starting Price will have best settled at the best odds. This offer may be available on the day of the race when bookmakers will be looking to attract bets.

Melbourne Cup favourite horse 2019

Editorial credit: Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com

3 Horses to Watch in 2022

  • Alegron
  • Deauville Legend
  • Loft

Melbourne Cup 2022 Favourite

As usual, the betting market for the 2022 Melbourne Cup remains extremely competitive. Plenty of potential contenders have already gone by the wayside, but some extreme quality remains.

Most leading bookmakers online will offer standard each-way terms for the race, though offers may be handed out as we get closer to November 1.

The emergence of Loft as a leading contender has meant a real challenge to Deauville Legend. The latter horse, trained in England, sprung to the top of the market in August after winning the historic Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.

While a firm favourite hasn’t been decided on yet, Deauville Legend is the most solid in the market. For more on that, check out our Melbourne Cup betting offers for existing customers.

Deauville Legend is certain to run, injury allowing. His form in England has been hugely progressive and it seems he can yet take another step forward.

His form stands up to scrutiny, he has stayed 2600 metres already and is almost certain to stay further on pedigree. He is the current market leader for the 2022 Melbourne Cup and at this point, it not likely to be overhauled by anything other than Loft in the near future.

Trained by up-and-coming trainer James Ferguson in the racing heartland of Newmarket, Deaville Legend has taken many in the game by surprise. Perfectly average after two 2021 runs, he arrived at Windsor as a gelding in April and started his odyssey.

After winning there, he was second to Secret State at Royal Ascot before scoring in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy. That showed his staying power, though he went back to 2400 metres at Glorious Goodwood.

He was beaten there by New London, but was sent to York to compete against St Leger hopefuls in the Great Voltigeur. He destroyed that field, but as a gelding could not compete in the Classic itself. He was instead thought of as an ideal Melbourne Cup contender and is being sent to the Carnival.

Being by superstar sire Sea The Stars out of a Hernando mare, he cuts the mustard on breeding. He gave New London weight at Goodwood for a narrow defeat and he went off favourite for the Leger. He also beat $2m purchase and Cup hope Hoo Ya Mal in the process.

He has already earned over half a million dollars in England. The Melbourne Cup prize money however means he can go to a whole new level if winning the big one.

William HARRIS
15 articles
William is a racing writer with a growing portfolio of work on Australia and England horse racing. His passionate and his goal is to work as a journalist in the horse racing industry, and in the future to become a racing commentator.
Posted in News
18+ | Please play responsibly | Chances are you’re about to lose. | Terms and Conditions apply | Commercial content