Melbourne Cup Tips 2023: History To Down Vauban And Hand Doyle Flemington Success
Melbourne Cup tips as our man Steve Chambers previews the Flemington showpiece, which will be off at 04:00 GMT. The biggest race in Australia will see the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban line up as red-hot favourite, but despite the Royal Ascot winnerbeing a warm order, we veer away from the Closutton raider and pick a value contender that could hand Hollie Doyle a momentous Melbourne Cup victory...
Dermot Weld and Joseph O'Brien are two Irish trainers that have their name etched on to the Melbourne Cup roll of honour and Willie Mullins is another from the Emerald Isle looking to claim the prestigious Flemington showpiece, which takes place at 04:00am on Tuesday morning. Mullins, who is a name more synonymous with the Cheltenham Festival, will unleash a dual-pronged attack at the 'race that stops a nation' and the Closutton magician will have a huge chance with hot favourite Vauban carrying the Rich Ricci silks, while Absurde is another classy stayer set to line up.
Fourth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March, Vauban then went and finished second in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, but it's been on the level that has seen him blossom and he was a stunning runaway winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. Stepping out of handicap company next time out he was a top notch winner of the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes and he heads Down Under as the star European performer that could be far too good for his rivals. He will have the benefit of Ryan Moore in the saddle and he heads to Flemington on the back of some fine Breeders' Cup wins, notably a ride for the ages on Auguste Rodin in the Turf. In Vauban there's a really top notch stayer, who looks very attractively handicapped to land this prize and if he brings his A game then looks the one to beat. However, he's short enough in the betting for this contest and there could be some more attractive each-way value elsewhere for those punters looking to take on the top-notch Mullins raider.
Last seen storming to victory in the Ebor Handicap at York, Absurde will be hoping to kick on from that success over the very smart Sweet William, but while he's in the form of his life he may not have the qualities of his stablemate to land a blow on the big occasion and he could be a less likely winner for the Mullins team and is one to ignore. Vauban dismissed him with ease at Royal Ascot and should do so again.
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace tasted victory in the Melbourne Cup for the first time last year as Gold Trip stormed to victory and that deadly duo will saddle five runners in the 2023 renewal, with Gold Trip one of the quintet lining up as he looks to retain his crown. Not since the legendary Makybe Diva has a horse won back-to-back Melbourne Cups and the six-year-old was last seen finishing sixth in the Cox Plate. He was also beaten in the Caulfield Cup earlier in the season, but went down in that race last season too before Melbourne Cup glory so connections will be confident he can improve on those efforts again to figure here.
Another from the Maher, Eustace team that could play a notable role will be ridden by top British rider Hollie Doyle is FUTURE HISTORY, who is available at double-figured odds at the time of writing. This one could easily sneak in the frame as he is lining up with a featherweight on his back. Future History has been very consistent this campaign and two starts ago won the Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings at Flemington. Next seen finishing third to Cleveland in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Future History is now stepping up in trip and that could bring on some more improvement. The five-year-old was beaten less than a length that day and will lock horns again with the second placed Vow And Declare here, but Doyle could well stand a chance of turning that form around and he heads into the race in the form of his life and looks the value play.
Anthony & Sam Freedman's Without A Fight was a fine winner of the Caulfield Cup last time out and is one of those at the head of the betting that is sure to run a big race and has to be respected by punters, while Breakup and Military Mission add more depth to the contest which is set to be an absolutely terrific spectacle for racing fans. Serpentine, the surprise 2020 Epsom Derby winner, also lines up and is available at huge prices.
