Melbourne Cup 2021 Betting Tips & Predictions (November 2)
Tuesday, the 2nd November, sees the annual return of ‘the race that stops the nation’ with the running of the 2021 Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most cherished horse race. This expert betting preview provides the best 2021 Melbourne Cup odds and complete Melbourne Cup 2021 betting tips.
As it has become affectionately known to the locals, the Melb Cup is held at Flemington Racetrack on the outskirts of Melbourne on the first Tuesday of November each year. It’s one of the oldest sports events, with this iconic horse race first in 1861. The race is run over 1.99 miles (3,200 metres) and is a handicap race open to horses over 3 years of age.
The race started exclusively for Australians, but now it’s a horse race that attracts some of the world’s finest horses from all corners of the globe. After running the race in front of empty stands last year, it’s expected that 10,000 racing fans will gather at the famous track, and it’s guaranteed to be loud!
Odds for Melbourne Cup 2021 – Bookies Favourites
As ever with a competitive race like the Melb Cup, the latest Melbourne Cup 2021 horses’ odds suggest this is a tough race to call. Picking a winner out of 24 runners is certainly no easy feat, but Australian bookies have trawled through the lineup, and a market is starting to become established.
Currently heading the betting is the multiple Group 1 winning horse Incentivise at odds of 7/4. The heavy favourite, Incentivise, will fly the home nation’s flag. Trained by Peter Moody, Incentivise will add to his 4 Group 1 career wins.
Next in the betting is Spanish Mission, who can be backed at 6/1. Trained by British trainer Andrew Balding who is enjoying a fine season, Spanish Mission almost lowered the colours of multiple Group 1 winner Stradivarius in his last run. To round off, the top three is Grand Promenade which is priced at 12/1. Trained by David Eustace and Ciaron Maher, he won 8 times and looked poised to face a serious challenge.
With such a rich history, some truly great horses have won the Melbourne Cup. The race’s first winner back in 1861 was a horse called Archer. Archer is famous within Australian horse racing circles as before his renowned win. He is supposed to have walked over 500 miles to compete. Archer became the first multiple-winner of the race, repeating the feat the following year, in 1862.
Briseis ran the first edition of the Melbourne Cup that was held on a Tuesday back in 1876. Before winning the VRC Derby and the VC Oaks, all 3 wins took place over just 6 days. What’s more impressive is that she was piloted to these victories by Peter St Albans, who will continue to be the Melbourne Cups’ youngest-ever rider at just 12 years of age.
Phar Lap is one of Australia’s most famous horses, and he won the race back in 1930. He was so renowned that he had to be hidden in nearby Geelong. There were rumours he even survived a potential shooting just days before his victory.
The horse that owns the track record for the race is Kingston Rule. Kingston Rule ran a time of 3:16.3, and it’s still a record that exists today.
Makybe Diva has won the race 3 times and is the most successful horse in Melbourne Cup history, having successfully won the race in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Melbourne Cup 2021 Predictions
If you are looking to bet on Melbourne Cup 2021, then you have come to the right place as we will provide our top 3 Melbourne Cup 2021 picks for who we think will win this famous race.
Pick 1: Incentivise – 7/4
The very nature of the Melbourne Cup means it’s very hard to predict the winner in what is usually such an open and exciting race. However, this year Incentivise is the race’s standout horse. A multiple Group 1 winning champion, his presence in the lineup gives this year’s edition of the race an added touch of star quality. Incentivise could make history and be the race’s shortest-ever priced favourite. He will also be looking to secure a historic double thanks to his easy victory in the Caulfield Cup, a decisive victory that prompted some bookmakers to pay out on Incentivise despite the race being more than 2 weeks away.
Only 11 horses have ever completed this famous double, and thanks to his Caulfield Cup success, Incentivise will run as the race’s second-highest weighted horse – carrying a total of 57kg. Those looking to take Incentivise will be buoyed by the fact that only one horse has won the Caulfield Cup Melbourne Cup double when carrying a weight of 57kg or more.
He is, without a doubt, a worthy favourite, and it will take a great performance to beat him, but the weight he has to carry will give others a chance.
Pick 2: Twilight Payment – 14/1
Joseph O’Brien is already proving to be one of the world’s most dynamic and successful trainers, having winners in England, Ireland, France, America, Dubai, and Australia. Here he resaddles Twilight Payment, who won the race back in 2020. Priced at 14/1 for the victory, those odds could look a little longer if, as he usually does, Joseph O’Brien has Twilight Payment in peak condition for the race.
Looking back over his 2020 victory, Twilight Payment had the complete run of the race. Leading from the first turn, he could control the tempo from the front and string the rest of the field out. As he entered the home straight and the rest of the chasing pack closed, you thought it would only be a matter of time before he got caught, but he showed what heart he had and kept finding to ensure he held on for a famous victory.
It’s to be seen whether he will be allowed such an easy time out front this time, but with Twilight Payment, you know you are backing a horse that likes the track and can see the trip. At an each-way price of 14/1, he could be worth a small each-way play.
Pick 3: Verry Elleegant – 20/1
You would not often find a 9-time Group 1 winning horse priced at 20/1, but we currently have the Verry Elleegant. Verry Elleegant launched herself into Melbourne Cup contention with a gutsy performance in the Group 1 George Main. Seemingly looking destined to take second place in the race, she found a late burst up the inside rail, showing that well-known turn of foot to pinch a victory in the final 100 metres.
You must wonder how much that race might have taken her out, and question marks would remain over the trip. At 20/1, it might be too high a price for a horse that has consistently done the job at the highest level multiple times.
Popular Bet Types for 2021 Melbourne Cup
Many people who wouldn’t normally bet on horse racing will have a punt and place a 2021 Melbourne Cup bet in a race that captivates a nation and the wider world. It was estimated that over 100 million AUS Dollars were bet on the race back in 2020. If you are new to betting, here’s our quick guide to the different types of bets you can place.
Bet to win – this bet does what it says on the tin. You are simply picking a horse to win the race, and for your wager to count as a winner, your horse needs to finish first past the post.
Each-way betting – each-way betting is where you wager 2 lines on the same bet. You are betting on the horse to win and to place. If your horse is a winner, you will get paid the winning stake and the place stake. If your horse finishes within the places, you will get the place element of the bet paid. If you wanted to bet a total of $10 via an each-way bet, your wager would consist of $5 for the horse to win and $5 for the horse to place. If your horse doesn’t win, the place money you get paid is usually a quarter of the starting price, so that returns can be small sometimes here.
Place bet – a place bet is where you wager on your horse to finish within the top 3 places. Bookies in a race with as many runners as the Melbourne Cup sometimes offer place bets for horses that finish 4th and sometimes even 5th.
2021 Melbourne Cup – Final Prediction
With the race just around the corner, the excitement is truly gathering. The return of fans to the famous Flemington racetrack will make the Melbourne Cup carnival so special. In a race like the Melbourne Cup, it’s very hard to make a solid prediction. We have seen on so many occasions the favourite gets beaten with many outsiders shocking the world with a victory. But this year is slightly different as there is undoubtedly a superstar in the lineup in Incentivise.
Incentivise is a special horse that has posted some staggering results. He has a chance to create history by being the shortest-priced winner and the only the second horse to have ever won the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double while carrying a weight of 157kg.
For those looking to oppose Incentivise, there are a few areas you can take hope from. After a busy 2021 campaign, does Incentivise arrive at the Melbourne Cup as fresh as he can be? Other horses would have been primed for the race weeks and months ago and have had a light campaign in comparison. Could Incentivise’s schedule catch up with him?
The second factor is weight. He will be running with the largest weight he has ever carried. In a race where the gallop is bound to be strong, it’s unknown how this wonderful horse can handle it.
Ultimately, we think the class will prevail, and Incentivise will win a tightly run affair, cementing his position as one of the world’s best horses.
One thing is for certain; everything looks primed and ready for yet another classic Melbourne Cup.
For all the latest 2021 Melbourne Cup odds, best betting deals, live betting options, and top free bets, follow our list of the world’s best horse racing betting sites that have you covered for an everything horse racing related.
How many runners make up the Melbourne Cup 2021 field?
The maximum number of horses allowed to run in the race is 24. Each horse is allocated a starting gate before the race. In what is usually a frantic start, horses with a low draw will be perceived to have the early advantage.
What time does the race start?
The race will begin at 3 pm Australian time. For those watching in the UK or Europe, the start time will be 3 – 4 am.
What does the winner win?
If you are the lucky winner of the Melbourne Cup 2021, you win a whopping $4.4 million. All the finishers inside the top 12 will win prize money, which drops to $160,000.
Who is the most successful trainer?
The most successful trainer in Melbourne Cup history is Bart Cummings, who won the race an astonishing 12 times.
Rebecca is a Liverpool gal and a big fan of the club. She likes nothing more than sharing tips and predictions on sports betting. Her other favorite sports include horse racing, snooker, and golf. Rebecca is in charge of writing and media at BetZillion. You can thank her for making our articles look so great.
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