It is the first Tuesday of November, and that can only mean one thing: the race that stops a nation. Yes, it is the Melbourne Cup once again and Racing Post Tipster Jonny Pearson is on hand to run you through his NAP and next best selection for the big race.
The home nation holds a strong hand, Ciaron Maher in particular, with seven runners in the contest. Also with several chances is Joseph O'Brien, who saddles five runners as he attempts to train the winner for a third time.
We have ages ranging from three to eight, including a previous winner in Knight's Choice. It is set to be a thriller and Racing Post Tipster Jonny Pearson is on hand to run you through his NAP and next best selection for the Melbourne Cup.
Jonny Pearson's NAP of the day for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 3rd November.
04:00 Flemington - Melbourne Cup
Hopewell Rock @ 7/1
Rider | Zac Lloyd |
Trainer | George Boughey |
Owner | Wathnan Racing |
Age | 4 |
Overall Form | 9-3612 |
Stats
Hopewell Rock has posted career-best Racing Post Ratings on his last two starts.
Zac Lloyd has one win from five rides for George Boughey.
George Boughey is looking to become the second British trainer to train the winner of the Melbourne Cup, following Charlie Appleby in 2018. In HOPEWELL ROCK, he looks to have an outstanding chance of achieving this with the first horse he will have saddled for the race.
He was last seen running in the Ebor Handicap at York in August, and although he hasn't been on a racecourse since, this will have been the plan for some time. When last seen, he was unfortunate not to win; the jockey dropping his whip one furlong out was possibly costly, with the winning distance just a head. With that being just his 10th career start, there is undoubtedly more to come.
Further helping his chances, he has a relatively light weight, and the booking of Zac Lloyd must be seen as a positive, a jockey who rode for the trainer in the UK in the summer. A draw of stall 15 shouldn't be a problem, with five of the last 10 winners coming from a wider draw than this.
Hopewell Rock has been trained for this, and with George Boughey having a good time of things with a winner at the Breeders' Cup, he can continue his international escapades with success in Australia's biggest race.
What is a NAP in Horse Racing?
Next Best Bet
04:00 Flemington - Melbourne Cup
Zahrann @ 28/1
Rider | Ben Melham |
Trainer | Ciaron Maher |
Owner | A Kheir, R Mesiano Et Al |
Age | 4 |
Overall Form | -4106 |
Stats
Ciaron Maher trained the winner in 2022.
Four-year-olds have the joint most number of Melbourne Cup wins.
Formerly trained in Ireland, ZAHRANN is now in the hands of Ciaron Maher, who saddles seven here, but this might be his most likely winner, and he has plenty going for him. He has been handed a premium draw and is set to break from stall 11, which has produced one of the highest numbers of winners in the race, along with stall number five.
When trained in Ireland, he had strong form, notably a second-placed effort at Royal Ascot in a Group 2, and winning a Group 3 contest at the Curragh. This represents a strong level of form, and his success at Caulfield in September is of a similar level.
He hasn't been at the same level on his last two runs, but he is in the race, nicely weighted and the trip shouldn't be a problem, having shaped as if two miles is within his grasp multiple times.
Provided he has a good trip round, he looks to have the second best chance of success in the race.
Tipster's Recent Winners
Jonny Pearson is a handicapper for the Racing Post who has been in good form recently, tipping four winners across the two days of the Breeders' Cup meeting.
Read more horse racing betting tips and predictions on site.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
