Melbourne Cup 2021: Get the latest best bets, tipping and punting news

Is it a case of Incentivise or bust this Melbourne Cup day? Find out who the experts are tipping and where the upsets could come from.

The biggest day on the racing calendar is almost here. Who are you backing on Melbourne Cup day?

TAB racing guru Nick Quinn has gone through the form and has you covered with some early specials from all the races.

FOLLOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE ON CUP DAY

See who he likes below and all our expert tips for the big race.

MORE: MELBOURNE CUP FIVE-MINUTE BETTING GUIDE

Incentivise is a hot favourite to take out the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

THE BANKER

SPIRIT OF GAYLARD

(Flemington, R9 No. 6)

NAMED after the late racing identity Rob Gaylard, Spirit Of Gaylard resumed from a spell with an impressive win at Bendigo before losing no admirers last start when finishing just out of the placings in the Drummond Golf Vase won by Forgot You.

Spirit Of Gaylard was an emergency in the Victoria Derby but failed to gain a start, which could be a blessing in disguise for connections as this looks a lovely race for him on Melbourne Cup Day.

Drawn nicely in gate six and with star jockey Jordan Childs in the saddle he looks a good bet for punters later in the day.

EACH-WAY

GROOVY KIND OF LOVE

(Flemington, R4 No. 9)

ULTRA-consistent mare who has finished in the placings 10 times from 11 career starts.

Comes into this race on the back of a strong last-start win at Ballarat.

World-class jockey Damien Lane takes the ride again and on an open program she looks a nice each-way play.

TUGGING AT THE HEART STRINGS

JOCKEY Harry Coffey is an absolute inspiration, and he is set to ride in his first Melbourne Cup.

Coffey, a determined jockey who lives with cystic fibrosis, is set to steer longshot Port Guillaume, for brothers Ben and JD Hayes.

And no matter where the horse finishes, Coffey is already the biggest winner on Cup Day.

Coffey also has a ride in race 5 in which he will partner Ocean Beyond for Group 1-winning trainer Daniel Bowman.

Twilight Payment crossing the line first in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

TAKE WEDNESDAY OFF

NORMALLY landing a trifecta in the Melbourne Cup would lead to many happy returns.

But this year, with Incentivise one of the shortest Cup favourites in history, you might need to shoot especially straight to enjoy the same spoils.

We are going to take our trifecta requiring Incentivise winning, then a group of runners for the placings.

First: Incentivise

Second: Twilight Payment, Spanish Mission, Grand Promenade, Sir Lucan, Floating Artist, Tralee Rose, Persan, Pondus, Delphi, Explosive Jack and Great House

Third: Twilight Payment, Spanish Mission, Grand Promenade, Sir Lucan, Floating Artist, Tralee Rose, Persan, Pondus, Delphi, Explosive Jack and Great House

This would cost $110 for 100 per cent of the trifecta, but the good thing about the flexi betting option is that you choose how much you spend.

So an $11 outlay would result in you collecting 10 per cent of the trifecta if successful.

WHO TO BACK IN THE MELBOURNE CUP

Gilbert Gardiner

1 Spanish Mission

2 Grand Promenade

3 Pondus

4 Incentivise

Brad Waters

1 Incentivise

2 Tralee Rose

3 Grand Promenade

4 Twilight Payment

Glenn McFarlane

1 Incentivise

2 Spanish Mission

3 Verry Elleegant

4 Tralee Rose

Andrew Rule

1 Incentivise

2 Verry Elleegant

3 Spanish Mission

4 Sir Lucan

Patrick Carlyon

1 Spanish Mission

2 Incentivise

3 Grand Promenade

4 Twilight Payment

Ben Dorries

1 Incentivise

2 Verry Elleegant

3 Tralee Rose

4 Selino

Ray Thomas

1 Incentivise

2 Verry Elleegant

3 Grand Promenade

4 The Chosen One

Stephen Brassel

1 Incentivise

2 Spanish Mission

3 Grand Promenade

4 Floating Artist

Nick Quinn

1 Incentivise

2 Spanish Mission

3 Tralee Rose

4 Explosive Jack

Chris Vernuccio

1 Incentivise

2 Spanish Mission

3 Grand Promenade

4 Verry Elleegant

Simon Moy

1 Verry Elleegant

2 Incentivise

3 Grand Promenade

4 Tralee Rose

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2021: Get the latest best bets, tipping and punting news