Melbourne Cup Runners 2026: Full Field, Latest Odds, Contenders and Outsiders

Melbourne Cup 2026 Leading Contenders

Hopewell Rock (George Boughey / Zac Lloyd)

Hopewell Rock is one of the leading fancies. George Boughey's five-year-old comes here in form, with recent figures of 9-3612: a win and a second from his last two starts. He carries 54.5kg from barrier 15. That draw isn't ideal, but Zac Lloyd has enough time to find a position before the first turn. He is the youngest of the market leaders, still improving, and on a fair weight.

Point Of Law (Ciaron Maher / Ethan Brown)

Point Of Law is the most interesting of Ciaron Maher's big team. The four-year-old has finished 2-1-4-1-1 and comes in on a two-race winning streak. He has just 53kg and a good middle draw in barrier 9. The market rates him the pick of Maher's seven runners.

Trustyourinstinct (Joseph O'Brien / James McDonald)

Joseph O'Brien has five runners in the race, and Trustyourinstinct is the one booked for James McDonald. His recent form is 7-2-1-2-1-4, so he is consistent and hasn't been out of the first four in his last five starts. Top weight of 57kg (just behind stablemate Sons And Lovers) and barrier 18 are the obstacles. Still, the O'Brien and McDonald combination makes him a serious player.

Shockletz (Ciaron Maher / Harry Coffey)

Shockletz runs off the bottom of the weights with just 51kg, and that light weight is why he is so prominent in the betting. The five-year-old ran second last time out and has a win in his recent form figures of 8-6-4-1-6-2. Barrier 17 is wide, but with so little weight he can afford to use some petrol early.

So You Are (Bjorn Baker / Rachel King)

No horse comes into the race in better form. Bjorn Baker's five-year-old mare has won her last four starts (4-2-1-1-1-1). She has a nice barrier in 7 and 54kg. This is a big step up in grade and distance, but horses on winning streaks like this are hard to oppose in a handicap. Rachel King knows her well.

Juja Kibo (Ciaron Maher / Sam Clipperton)

Juja Kibo is another of the Maher team on a winning run, having won his last two (3-9-3-2-1-1). He carries 55kg from barrier 14 and is a solid each-way option at a double-figure price.