2025 Melbourne Cup Tips for Trifecta & First Four

betseeker melbourne cup betting tips

The final field is locked in for the 165th running of the race that stops a nation at Flemington. Best bets and comments for every runner in the Melbourne Cup are below.

Best Bet

6. Presage Nocturne (9)
J: Stephane Pasquier (55.5kg) T: Alessandro Botti

I think that the Caulfield Cup is the right form line and I have the French horse Presage Nocturne on top after a perfect trial in that race. Ticks every possible box.

Next Best

9. Absurde (7)
J: Kerrin McEvoy (53.5kg) T: Willie Mullins

Absurde was most unlucky in the race last year, and he showed with a very good Caulfield Cup trial that he is peaking at the right time.

Best Roughie

21. River of Stars (14)
J: Beau Mertens (51.5kg) T: Chris Waller

She doesn’t want it too wet, but River of Stars put the writing on the wall with a superb Caulfield Cup second placing, and she will eat up the two miles.

Melbourne Cup Tips for Trifecta

1st: 6, 9, 14, 21
2nd: 1, 6, 9, 10, 14, 21, 24
3rd: 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 21, 22, 24

Melbourne Cup Tips for First Four

1st: 6, 9, 14, 21
2nd: 1, 6, 9, 10, 14, 21, 24
3rd: 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 21, 22, 24
4th: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

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Melbourne Cup Runner-By-Runner Preview

1. Al Riffa (19)
J: Mark Zahra (59kg) T: Joseph O'Brien

Clearly the class runner in the field but he has to overcome the 59Kg which no horse has carried in several decades. While he has never seen a wet track, that shouldn’t bother him, but with so much weight he will need to be at the absolute top of his game. Under the odds.

2. Buckaroo (12)
J: Craig Williams (57kg) T: Chris Waller

Ran in this race last year, and while Joao Moreira didn’t give him a good ride, he wasn’t exactly savaging the line at the end of two miles either. There is a definite query over his will to win given that he has turned it up at two of his last three runs. Hard pass at the price.

3. Arapaho (56.5)
J: Rachel King (56.5kg) T: Bjorn Baker

At his peak he would be a rough place chance but coming into this race off a last start eighth in the Bendigo Cup suggests he is simply not going well enough.

4. Vauban (2)
J: Blake Shinn (56.5kg) T: Waterhouse/Bott

Started favourite in this race two years ago and went around $8 last year. He finished 14th and 11th. Very unlucky in the Metropolitan but was flat out poor in the Caulfield Cup. Rough place chance.

5. Chevalier Rose (5)
J: Damian Lane (53.5kg) T: Hisashi Shimizu

Best Japanese form is a couple of years ago now and the rain is almost certainly a negative. Pass.

6. Presage Nocturne (9)
J: Stephane Pasquier (55.5kg) T: Alessandro Botti

Produce the perfect trial for this race in the Caulfield Cup where he was very strong through the line. The French form has stood up in this race in the recent past, while the rain is big positive for the grey. The one to beat.

7. Middle Earth (13)
J: Ethan Brown (54.5kg) T: Maher/Eustace

Poor run in the Caulfield Cup but backed up the next week in the JRA at Moonee Valley and was very strong through the line over 2040m. Has miles in the legs and bred to run the trip, but the wet track is a query. Far from the worst roughie.

8. Meydaan (22)
J: James McDonald (54kg) T: S & E Crisford

If JMac wasn’t riding this horse it would be double the price. Didn’t fire a shot in the Caulfield Cup and it doesn’t want wet ground at all. Hard pass.

9. Absurde (7)
J: Kerrin McEvoy (53.5kg) T: Willie Mullins

Very unlucky in this race last year when he copped a significant check in the home straight that cost him any winning chance. Should have finished top four at least. Did enough in the Caulfield Cup to suggest he is going at least as well. Rain looks good for him. Perfect draw. Great bet at the odds.

10. Flatten The Curve (17)
J: Thore Hammer Hansen (53.5kg) T: Henk Grewe

Globe hopping German who comes here off a last start win at Kentucky Downs, but American two mile racing isn’t exactly a powerhouse. Hard to line up the form but he has been well backed since fields came out, so he has to be respected.

11. Land Legend (6)
J: Joao Moreira (53.5kg) T: Chris Waller

Could only manage eighth in this race last year when he came into it in outstanding form. Comes here this year, off back to back last placings. Hard pass.

12. Smokin' Romans (11)
J: Ben Melham (53.5kg) T: Ciaron Maher

I don’t think he would run two miles down the side of Mt Elephant, let alone in this class.

13. Changingoftheguard (24)
J: Tim Clark (53kg) T: Kris Lees

Blinkers going on for the first time reeks of desperation and considering his lead up form, they should be desperate.

14. Half Yours (8)
J: Jamie Kah (53kg) T: T & C McEvoy

Given an outstanding ride by Jamie Melham in the Caulfield Cup, and he was probably entitled to win that race by a larger margin given the run he had and the price he started. Nevertheless, if the only knock you can find on a horse is that they ought to have won easier last time out, that bodes well for his chances, even if he seems very short at the price.

15. More Felons (23)
J: Tommy Berry (53kg) T: Chris Waller

Comes in with the Metropolitan/Sydney St Leger form which we have seen time and again, simply does not stand up in the Cup.

16. Onesmoothoperator (6)
J: Harry Coffey (53Kg) T: Brian Ellison

Easy to forget he started $7 in this race last year off the back of a dominant Geelong Cup win and finished 12th. It’s hard not to throw him in just off the back of the SP profile but at the same time, the wet is a big question mark against him.

17. Furthur (7)
J: Michael Dee (52kg) T: Andrew Balding

Northern Hemisphere 3YO and that is a formula that saw success with Cross Counter and Rekindling, but he isn’t as well credentialed as those runners and his wet form is problematic.

18. Parchment Party (3)
J: John Velazquez (52kg) T: William Mott

American runner who comes here off back to back wins at Saratoga, but that form is highly dubious. Pass.

19. Athabascan (1)
J: Declan Bates (51.5kg) T: O'Shea/Charlton

Sydney stayer who lacks the necessary class but can probably battle on to a top ten finish if things go well.

20. Goodie Two Shoes (20)
J: Wayne Lordan (51.5kg) T: Joseph O'Brien

Failed steeplechaser who has won three from five since reverting to the flat. UK form looks second rate and happy to go around her.

21. River of Stars (14)
J: Beau Mertens (51.5kg) T: Chris Waller

Produced an outstanding trial for this in the Caulfield Cup where she sat on the pace off a strong speed and stuck on gamely to finish second. She probably doesn’t want it too wet, but if the track can stay a Soft 7 to Heavy 8, she is a terrific chance with such a light weight.

22. Royal Supremacy (21)
J: Robbie Dolan (51kg) T: Ciaron Maher

Continues to improve every start and comes from a jockey/trainer combination that knows about winning a Melbourne Cup. Probably lacks the class required but one of the better roughies in the field.

23. Torranzino (18)
J: Celine Gaudray (51kg) T: Paul Preukser

Still getting over this horse’s defeat in the Warrnambool Cup but despite his good last start win in the Geelong Cup, it is a formline that never holds up in this race.

24. Valiant King (10)
J: Jye McNeil (51kg) T: Chris Waller

Fashionable selection for this race off the back of his fast closing fourth in the Caulfield Cup, which was preceded by an impressive Bart Cummings win off a hot tempo prior. He has only won two races over his career, but it’s not hard to see why he is fancied, even if the price looks too short.

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Frankie has spent more than a decade working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.