Carnival Capers: Racing experts Ben Dorries and Nathan Exelby pick apart the Melbourne Cup front runners

IN this week’s Carnival Capers podcast our experts pick apart the Melbourne Cup favourites. LISTEN NOW

The Ed Dunlop trained Trip to Paris is worked at Werribee racecourse in Melbourne, Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

HERE our racing experts give you the inside knowledge on just who to back in tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup.

Nathan Exelby: Welcome back from your honeymoon Ben. A few nervous connections of Melbourne Cup runners would have preferred you stayed away. Your Cup tips have actually been highly sought after this year, not for their wisdom, but for literally being the kiss of death, after three of your four selections last year are now deceased.

Ben Dorries: Most punters will be treating my tips as scratchings after my shocking efforts last year. I’m sure Zac Purton and the Japanese are pleased I’ve steered clear of tipping them again. I think Fame Game is a show pony, the most ridiculous unders I have ever seen. I couldn’t back Phar Lap at $4.60 in a Melbourne Cup, let alone an overrated Japanese stayer. Trip To Paris is close to a moral after his fabulous Caulfield Cup effort, while Gust Of Wind could go close to blowing them all away at big odds.

Nathan Exelby: Well Phar Lap did win, so you can’t even back a winner with 85-year hindsight. My best roughie is Our Ivanhowe and the other to include is Preferment, who has the country’s best trainer and jockey combination. We have both tipped Trip To Paris on top. I sense there’s more expectation in the Ed Dunlop camp this year. Even though he hasn’t publicly stated a preference and Red Cadeaux will have his admirers, Trip To Paris looks the one that can end his Australian frustration.

Ben Dorries: Dunlop has been a happy-go-lucky figure in recent visits here, but he has had his game face on this week. That’s a big clue that he really fancies Trip To Paris.

Nathan Exelby: You were quick to sidle up to Max Dynamite’s flamboyant owner Rich Ricci on Saturday night. I suppose you could say he’s a little bit like yourself — flamboyant, mysterious, eccentric — but I’m tipping your respective bank balances are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Ben Dorries: I heard he was worth $100 million so thought he might be good for a loan. There is obviously a lot of interesting stories hiding behind his dark sunglasses. And all the shrewd observers at Werribee are telling me that Max Dynamite is working the house down. Another big talking point on track has been your strange eating habits Nathan, after I told Gai Waterhouse you have a life ban on eating eggs. But you had a fluffy lobster omelet last night. Please explain?

Nathan Exelby: It was in honour of the late, great Wayne Wilson, who always tipped it as the best dish in Melbourne. Regarding Gai, like most, I don’t think she listened to a word you said. It’s great she’s got another two runners this year, but the pair don’t look winning chances. Fellow Hall of Famers Lee Freedman and David Hayes are better chances, as is future Hall of Famer Chris Waller, who is very upbeat about Preferment, which would continue the great run for Queensland owners over the carnival.

Originally published as Carnival Capers: Racing experts Ben Dorries and Nathan Exelby pick apart the Melbourne Cup front runners