Melbourne Cup best bets: Most creative ways to back a winner

There are plenty of ways to win some cash on Melbourne Cup day — here are the best bets to make if you’re looking to get creative.

Will Incentivise (far right) do the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double? (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

With a 24-horse field and massive pools, the Melbourne Cup trifecta and first four dividends can be huge.

Wagering operator TAB is estimating a whopping $7.5 million First Four betting pool as Cup Day flushes out more punters than any other day on the racing calendar.

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If you want something more exciting out of your bets today than just putting a few bob down on red-hot favourite Incentivise to win, then some of the options below might appeal to you.

Figuring out exactly what bets are available can be tricky to navigate, so we’ve prepared a guide to help you understand some of the most common bets to ensure you don’t look out of place when you head to the TAB.

Here is how the experts at punters.com.au will be tackling the exotic Cup bets.

Best winning hopes

2. Incentivise

1. Twilight Payment

3. Spanish Mission

Incentivise (2) is clearly the horse to beat coming off one of most destructive Caulfield Cup wins in modern times. His Cup preparation has been faultless - he just needs to run out the two miles. Twilight Payment (1) won this race last year, running solid sectionals at the front of affairs. He’s not getting any younger and he rises in weight, but he comes here in good form and he’s drawn well. Spanish Mission (3) has excellent form on paper, running 2nd to the great Stradivarius last start, but he’s had a few issues since arriving in Australia. Leg/feet problems in the lead-up and a firm track is a genuine concern, but his best is easily good enough.

Best roughies

15. Pondus

23. Great House

Pondus (15) was disappointing last start but Melbourne Cup marvel Lloyd Williams may have been foxing a touch. The horse, who plummets in weight and maps for a soft run, could easily find lengths third-up. Great House (23) has walked a tough road to the Cup but he’s racing in good form and he’s obviously rock-hard fit after five runs in a row at 2000m+.

All eyes will be on Flemington at 3pm. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Skinny trifecta

1st: 2

2nd: 1, 3, 15, 16, 23

3rd: 1, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

$25 = 50 per cent

Wide trifecta

1st: 1, 2, 3

2nd: 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 23

3rd: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

$50 = 33.3 per cent

Skinny first four

1st: 2

2nd: 1, 3, 15, 16, 23

3rd: 1, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

4th: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

$25 = 4.55 per cent

Wide first four

1st: 1, 2, 3

2nd: 1, 2, 3, 15

3rd: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

4th: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24

$50 = 6.17 per cent