Melbourne Cup 2025 Tips and Best Bets

It’s the biggest day on the racing calendar, and once again, we are in for an epic Melbourne Cup race. The lucky 24 runners have been selected, and they all get to fight it out for the $10 million in prize money and for the right to call themselves a Melbourne Cup champion. Our Melbourne Cup horse racing tips have just landed right here at australianbettingsites.net.au.

Our horse racing tips and best bets have the Melbourne Cup covered from every angle. Our experts provide their three top tips for the race, so there is something for every type of bettor. If you’re in the market for a new bookie, make sure you check out our list of recommended betting sites before all the Melbourne Cup racing action kicks off for the day.

I’ve analysed the chances of all 24 runners in the 2025 Melbourne Cup. In my opinion, there are three runners that stand out from the back, for various reasons. You can check out all my Melbourne Cup tips in the table.

Best Odds provided

Best Bet: 

24. Valiant King

Recommended Bet Type:

Each-Way

Best Odds Available:

$8.00/$2.80 with PlayUp

Analysis:

With just 51kg on his back (the equal lightest weight), I’m siding with Valiant King, who has some good form coming into the Melbourne Cup. Two runs back, he won The Bart Cummings (Group Three) by almost 3L, as a $61 chance. He followed up that run with a third placing in the Caulfield Cup (Group One), finishing 1.46L off the current Melbourne Cup favourite, after going around as a $26 chance.

If you take his current 20:2-4-2 career record at face value, it doesn’t look like a lot is going right for the 6YO. But he is much improved from last season, and Jye McNeil has won and placed on the two occasions he has ridden him. I expect he’ll settle back in the field, look for the right breaks and give them a massive sight down the long straight. He has been underestimated a lot so far this prep; don’t take that risk again.

Next Best: 

2. Buckaroo

Recommended Bet Type:

Each-Way

Best Odds Available:

$9.50/$3.10 with PlayUp

Analysis:

For my next best Melbourne Cup bet, I like the look of Buckaroo and think he is in with a genuine chance of winning this one. Buckaroo is one of just five runners listed in single-digit odds and comes into the Melbourne Cup off a run in the Cox Plate. He’ll have to carry the second heaviest weight, but considering what he was able to do in the Cox Plate, I don’t think that will be of any concern. 

The 7YO ran champion mare, Via Sistina, to just 0.1L in the Cox Plate as a $16 chance. This was a race that Via Sistina won by 8L in 2024, so to finish that close is a massive accomplishment. The distance could be another challenge, but barrier 12 does work in his favour as he’ll have a few options. A lot of winners of the Melbourne Cup have come through the Cox Plate, and he’s another you’ll have to watch for late in the race.

Best Roughie: 

8. Meydann

Recommended Bet Type:

Place

Best Odds Available:

$5.00 with Dabble

Analysis:

With JMac on board, it’s hard to discount Meydann, so I’ll be taking him to place in the Melbourne Cup. He didn’t do a lot in the Caulfield Cup last time out, but the ride from jockey Andrea Atzeni wasn’t the best. The 5YO drops from 56kg to 54kg in this one, and I think he’ll enjoy the Flemington track a lot more than the Caulfield track. That run in the Caulfield Cup was his first go around in Australia as well.

I expect he’ll be fitter for that run under his belt, and a lot more things are lining up for him in this race. He’ll need all the luck he can get from the wide draw, but I expect he’ll settle back near the rear of the field. JMac has the experience to know when to go for a gap, and he’ll give Meydann every chance to take one and get into clear air in the closing stages of the race.