We’re focusing on the British and Irish-trained runners in our Melbourne Cup 2026 tips , as eight entries from these shores seek to claim glory in the race that stops a nation down under.
Australia’s most famous event has been won four times by Emerald Isle raiders, with Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle striking for Dermot Weld and Rekindling and Twilight Payment prevailing for Joseph O’Brien.
Charlie Appleby took top honours for the UK with Cross Counter and another strong party has travelled from the northern hemisphere this term, so here’s how we rank them in reverse order:
Wine Dark Sea
8. WINE DARK SEA (HARRY CHARLTON) @ 33/1
Looked an ideal type for this contest when making it three wins out of four this year with a well-backed victory in the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury but was another to run flat on his Australian debut in the Caulfield Cup.
Kizlyar
7. KIZLYAR (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 28/1
Has to improve on an 11 th -place finish in last week’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup when sent off favourite but a 25/1 success at Royal Ascot in June showed he is capable of springing a surprise.
Enfjaar
6. ENFJAAR (ROGER VARIAN) @ 16/1
This lightly-raced six-year-old created a much better impression when keeping on gamely to finish third of 18 in the Caulfield Cup and had previously made all to secure a gutsy Group Three success at Glorious Goodwood.
5. JAMES J BRADDOCK (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 16/1
Young European raiders are favoured by the race conditions, so this Epsom Derby third has been a long-range fancy and connections were quick to book veteran Australian jockey Craig Williams , who claimed Melbourne Cup glory in 2019, but stall 24 is a big obstacle to overcome.
Goodie Two Shoes
4. GOODIE TWO SHOES (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 14/1
Ran an absolute cracker to be runner-up in last year’s Melbourne Cup at 40/1 and arguably put in a career-best effort to land the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood ahead of some smart rivals, but the seven-year-old has 7lb more to carry this time and a wide draw won’t help.
Sons And Lovers
3. SONS AND LOVERS (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 14/1
Has shown he can travel well by claiming a valuable prize in Saudi Arabia and a Group Two triumph at Longchamp before warming up for this trip with a rock-solid Leopardstown second on Irish Champions Weekend , so there’s no reason he can’t put in a bold showing.
Trustyourinstinct
2. TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 13/2
This seasoned traveller certainly seemed to enjoy stepping up in trip when coming with a smooth run to win the Group Two Curragh Cup and then lost nothing in defeat when fourth behind Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger . Securing the services of ace Kiwi rider James McDonald only adds to his appeal.
Hopewell Rock
1. HOPEWELL ROCK (GEORGE BOUGHEY) @ 13/2
Newmarket handler Boughey has had a breakout year with Classic success through Bow Echo and a Breeders’ Cup triumph with Libertango , so landing the Lexus Melbourne Cup would be the icing on the cake. Hopewell Rock was just touched off in the Ebor last time out but had previously won at Glorious Goodwood from Small Fry , who was subsequently second in the Geelong Cup to Point Of Law , Australia’s leading hope for this race.
Richard Brown , adviser to owners Wathnan Racing, said: “He’s travelled very well and George’s team down there are very happy with him, he went down there in great nick. He’s got a great attitude and is a really likeable horse and he’s just got the right temperament for travelling.
“He’s in right at the bottom and of course it’s a race where you need a lot of luck, but I think it will be really exciting. I think he has a lot of the attributes you’ll need to win a race like the Melbourne Cup. ”
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Melbourne Cup 2026 odds
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