Melbourne Cup 2015: Who the bookies are tipping in Tuesday’s great race at Flemington and all the big bets

THE bookmakers reveal their Melbourne Cup tips plus all the big bets for Tuesday’s race at Flemington.

Who the bookies are tipping in the Cup

THE bookmakers always get the best mail, so find out who they are tipping to win this year’s Melbourne Cup, plus all the big bets on the great race.

GLENN MUNSIE (TAB)

1. FAME GAME — Impossible to miss him in the Caulfield Cup and is a very strong stayer.

2. Almoonqith — Huge win in the Geelong Cup and is peaking for this.

3. Trip To Paris — As good as the run of Fame Game in the Caulfield Cup this guy was similar. Has to be included.

Best Roughie: Who Shot Thebarman — Placed last year and finally draws a better barrier to get a kind run.

THE FORM: ULTIMATE CUP GUIDE

THE TIPS: OUR EXPERTS’ SELECTIONS

THE BIG BETS

$6100 @ $13.50 on Sky Hunter (place only)

$3300 @ $17 on Almoonqith

$3000 @ $15 on Almoonqith

$2500 @ $15 on Almoonqith

$4500 @ $21 on The United States

$3000 @ $18.50 on Sky Hunter (place only)

$4000 @ $11 on Fame Game (Aug 15)

$2500 @ $26 on Red Cadeaux

“I think Fame Game will be better on course because these bookmakers haven’t had the chance to lay it yet and they are not going to miss that opportunity to bet against the shortest priced favourite since So You Think,’’ Munsie said. “We have him so short because of the liabilities that have built up over the period of time we have had a market open on the 2015 Cup (which incidentally is since last year’s race).’’

BLAKE JOHNSTON (UBET)

1. CRITERION — Has been brilliant since he has returned to Australia from his overseas adventures. He was simply too good when two months between runs in the Caulfield Stakes and the Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan was in his wake. He did well in the Cox Plate to pick himself back up after the winner Winx nearly put him through the fence before the home turn. He is an Australian Derby winner on a wet track so the distance should be of no concern and he will get the perfect run from an ideal draw.

2. Excess Knowledge — Charged at the line behind Amralah in the Herbert Power Stakes and then appreciated getting to the open spaces of Flemington where he had to survive a protest before he could take his place in the Melbourne Cup field. It was an outstanding win because he was three deep the entire race and had to make ground before the corner where not many did on the day. He would be my top pick had he drew a better barrier but with some luck he can win.

3. Who Shot Thebarman — Has had the perfect Melbourne Cup preparation. He has found the line nicely at all four runs this preparation and looks ready to peak in his grand final. He has had an extra run compared with his Sydney Cup preparation and that will ensure that he is very strong to the line. He will be given the perfect run about midfield and will appreciated the bigger track of Flemington.

THE BIG BETS

$1500 @ $8.50 Trip To Paris

$1500 @ $13 Max Dynamte

$500 @ $41 The Offer

$3000 @ $4 Fame Game

$1000 @ $14 Criterion

(All In)

$2000 @ $21 Who Shot Thebarman

$1000 @ $26 Hartnell

$2000 @ $9 Fame Game

$20,000 @ $9 Fame Game

“Fame Game attacked the line in the Caulfield Cup after getting too far back to be a winning chance. He has a good record over the extra distance and will be in the finish,’’ Johnston said. “He looks under his true odds with bookies keeping him safe because he is a bad result in multis after both favourite’s saluted in the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. He will start closer to 5/1 than his current odds so I would advise punters to wait and bet closer to the start of the race.’’

TOM WATERHOUSE (WILLIAM HILL)

1. TRIP TO PARIS — On the strength of his Caulfield Cup second, he has to be considered a leading player. This five-year-old is in career-best form and is a recent winner of the Ascot Gold Cup so will run the two miles no troubles.

2. The United States — He might be six years old but suspect we still haven’t seen the very best he has to offer just yet. Broke a track record last start and from a very astute stable.

3. Preferment — Flying this preparation and has masterfully beaten the handicapper by tackling weight-for-age races. Loves the open spaces of Flemington and the Chris Waller/Hugh Bowman combination is lethal.

THE BIG BETS

Fame Game — $41,000 @ $4, $25,000 @ $4, $5,000 @ $4.50 $6,500 @ #3.90

The Offer — $5,000 each way @ $41, $1,000 @ $151 (Pre-Bendigo Cup win)

Preferment — $2,000 each way @ $10

“The Japanese stayer, Fame Game, held 71 per cent of William Hill’s book prior to the barrier draw, mostly at the $4 mark,’’ Waterhouse said. “We’ve eased out to $4.80 since and if it’s happens to be wet, expect that to drift even further.

GERARD DAFFY (UBET)

1. MAX DYNAMITE — Will run the trip, and any rain a big help (remember, it is Melbourne!).

2. Trip To Paris — Terrific form in Group races in Europe, hard to beat on Caulfield Cup run.

3. Fame Game — All the rage in betting but did finish nearly 4 lengths behind Trip To Paris at Caulfield.

4. Criterion — Query at the trip otherwise would be half the odds. Good effort in Cox Plate behind a star.

Fame Game is a firm favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

THE BIG BETS

Fame Game $3000 at $14, $20,000 at $9.00, $3500 at 8.50

Sky Hunter $2000 each way at 41

Grand Marshal $750 each way at 67

The United States $500 at 51

Our Ivanhowe $1500 each way at 21

THE BIG MULTIS

Mongolian Khan, Winx, Chautauqua, Tarzino with Preferment $41 to payout $162,360

Press Statement, Mongolian Khan, Winx, Tarzino, with Preferment $1 to pay $22,680

Mongoliajh Khan, Winx, Chautauqua, Tarzino into Fame Game $50 payout of $115,500

Winx into Fame Game $1750 payout of $89,250

CHRISTIAN JANTZEN (SPORTSBET)

1. PREFERMENT — His wins in the Hill and Turnbull Stakes have Chris Waller primed for his first Melbourne Cup. Unbeaten in both starts at Flemington and both were Group 1 races.

2. Fame Game — The one to beat but if you didn’t back him before the Caulfield Cup you’re taking undoers.

3. Almoonqith — Looked like a Melbourne Cup contender in one of the better Geelong Cup wins you’ll see.

THE BIG BETS

$22,500 each-way Our Ivanhowe at $21

$15,000 Fame Game

$12,000 Hartnell

“We believe Fame Game has already reached its rock bottom odds and punters are looking for others to beat it at the short quote. Expect the favourite to drift beyond $4.00 by the time they jump,’’ Jantzen said. “Anyone who fancies Fame Game might want to leave it as late as possible to get on. Bookies on track should drift the favourite a fair bit as they haven’t laid it yet and therefore don’t have the liabilities that the corporates have.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2015: Who the bookies are tipping in Tuesday’s great race at Flemington and all the big bets