When deciding where to put your money, a natural place to turn is the horse at the head of the betting market, so let’s take a look at the Melbourne Cup 2023 favourites and remind ourselves how previous favourites have fared in the biggest betting race in Australia.
Although there can still be twists and turns in the final build up, it seems clear that Vauban will go off as Melbourne Cup favourite 2023.
Who is the favourite to win the Melbourne Cup in 2023?
Check our top 3 Horses to bet on:
| Melbourne Cup Favourites 2023 | Betting sites | Click to sign up and bet |
|---|---|---|
| Vauban |  | VISIT SITE |
| Soulcombe |  | VISIT SITE |
| Gold Trip | | VISIT SITE |
Vauban’s best results to date have come in the jumps arena, earning his stripes by winning the 2022 Cheltenham Festival’s Triumph Hurdle, followed by another victory at the Punchestown Festival just a month later. However, his 2023 jumps season didn’t quite reach the same heights, missing out in both the English and Irish versions of the Champion Hurdle. This prompted trainer Willie Mullins to make a strategic shift, returning Vauban to flat racing, where he had launched his career.
True to Mullins’ knack for astute decisions, the transition proved successful. Vauban clinched a coveted spot in the Melbourne Cup by winning the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and has since gone on to win at Naas in Ireland before heading over to Melbourne.
Of the other 2023 Melbourne Cup favourites, Soulcombe and Gold Trip look the most likely to challenge Vauban.
Soulcombe started out in the UK under trainer William Haggas and quickly got significant wins under his belt, at both Royal Ascot and the York Ebor meeting. Chris Waller then decided to take on Soulcombe at the tail end of 2022, and horse and trainer have gone on to enjoy what is already a successful partnership in Australia. Soulcombe won the Queen’s Cup on his Flemington Park debut, although a third place finish in this October’s Turnbull Stakes may stop expectations from getting too carried away as the Melbourne Cup draws ever nearer.
Followers of the Melbourne Cup should already know all about Gold Trip after it won the race in 2022. His form since then had fallen off, and there are concerns over how he’ll fare as the Melbourne Cup top weight. However victory over the likes of Soulcombe in the Turnbull Stakes has moved Gold Trip back up the betting alongside other Melbourne Cup favourites, bringing renewed hope that he can have a genuine shot at securing back-to-back Melbourne Cups.
The maximum field for the Melbourne Cup is 24 runners (have a look at the Melbourne Cup lineup 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 2023 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 2023 is shown live on television and that encourages betting.
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.
Recent Melbourne Cup Favourites
Deciding whether to back the Melbourne Cup favourites or take them on is a long-standing topic of discussion, particularly as recent favourites have a very poor record in the race. Here we’ve collated the performance of all the recent Melbourne Cup favourites so you can gauge the extent of their struggles and make your own betting decisions for Melbourne Cup 2023.
| Year | Melbourne Cup Favourites | Finishing Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Deauville Legend | 4th |
| 2021 | Incentivise | 2nd |
| 2020 | Tiger Moth | 2nd |
| 2019 | Finche | 7th |
| 2018 | Yucatan | 11th |
| 2017 | Almandin | 12th |
| 2016 | Hartnell | 3rd |
| 2015 | Fair Game | 13th |
| 2014 | Admire Rakti | 22nd |
| 2013 | Fiorente | Won |
| 2012 | Dunaden | 14th |
| 2011 | Americain | 4th |
| 2010 | So You Think | 3rd |
| 2009 | Alcopop | 6th |
| 2008 | Mad Rush | 7th |
| 2007 | Master O’Reilly | 8th |
| 2006 | Pop Rock | 2nd |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Won |
