*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
It’s all eyes on Flemington for the ‘race that stops the nation’ as the Melbourne Cup – one of the world’s richest renewals – breezes into town.
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You’ll have to set your alarms early for the Melbourne Cup 2021 as the 24 runners Down Under go to post at 4am GMT on Tuesday, November 2 but the good news is that generous Uncle Paddy is paying six places instead of four!
The dual effect of increased veterinary checks and the challenges posed by international travel in the coronavirus era means there will be just two European runners in the Flemington feature.
While it may be the lowest number of runners from our neck of the woods since 2010, the pair more than make up for it in quality. Twilight Payment scored in last year’s renewal and, unsurprisingly, heads the weights while Spanish Mission has the form to make a big impact.
Ireland’s Twilight Payment was a 25/1 winner when pipping Tiger Moth by ½l at Flemington in 2020 but must lumber 9st 2lb over the two-mile course. “It will be a tough task to carry all that weight but we’ll give it our best shot,” trainer Joseph O’Brien said.
Spanish Mission flies the flag for the UK and trainer Andrew Balding has booked 2019 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams to ride after his charge passed a late veterinary check.
European-based horses have claimed three of the last four renewals of the Melbourne Cup but while we may have had the upper hand on the Aussies in recent years, the home crowd have a hot favourite to back in the form of Incentivise.
The five-year-old is four from four after an impressive victory in last month’s Caulfield Cup and will become the 12th horse in history to double up if he strikes at Flemington.
Trainer Peter Moody said: “I’m not nervous, and once again, for the fact the horse has made it easy for me; he’s done everything asked of him. I believe if he holds that form, and what I’ve seen at home tells me he will hold his form, he should just about win the race.”
Below you’ll find all the key information you need to know about the Melbourne Cup 2021 including the runners, draw, prize money and Paddy Power odds.
Melbourne Cup 2021 Runners and Draw
Twilight Payment (Draw 2)
Incentivise (16)
Spanish Mission (14)
Verry Elleegant (19)
Explosive Jack (4)
The Chosen One (5)
Delphi (3)
Ocean Billy (13)
Selino (24)
Johnny Get Angry (22)
Knights Order (9)
Persan (11)
Carif (8)
Master Of Wine (6)
Pondus (1)
Grand Promenade (21)
Miami Bound (17)
Port Guillaume (23)
She’s Ideel (20)
Future Score (15)
Tralee Rose (12)
Floating Artist (10)
Great House (7)
Sir Lucan (18)
Melbourne Cup 2021 Prize Money
There’s a reason why the Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest races on the global horse racing calendar – the prize money! The winner of this year’s renewal will bag a whopping $4.4m (£2.4m) for connections… not bad for two miles of running! The runner-up earns $1.1m (£600,000), third place takes $550,000 (£300,000), the fourth home nets $350,000 (£200,000) while fifth claims $230,000 (£125,000). The prize money doesn’t stop there with those finishing sixth to 12th all winning $160,000 (£90,000) for connections.
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Melbourne Cup 2021 Odds
With a bumper field set to go to post, good old Uncle Paddy’s stepping up to the plate and paying six places for the Melbourne Cup 2021!
Incentivise is the hot favourite to make it five wins from five career runs and our betting market indicates Spanish Mission is the principal threat. Twilight Payment is prominent as O’Brien’s charge attempts to defend his crown.
Incentivise – 15/8
Spanish Mission – 13/2
Floating Artist – 9/1
Grand Promenade – 11/1
Tralee Rose – 11/1
Twilight Payment – 12/1
Pondus – 14/1
Sir Lucan – 14/1
Verry Elleegant – 16/1
Delphi – 16/1
The rest of Paddy Power’s Melbourne Cup 2021 betting market is priced from 20/1 to 150/1.
READ
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- Melbourne Cup odds: Who is the favourite to win the Melbourne Cup 2021?
- When is the Melbourne Cup 2021? Date and UK & Ireland start time
- When is the Breeders’ Cup 2021? The dates for two-day event
- Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 10 to follow for the 2021/22 jumps season
- Horse Racing tips: Matt Chapman’s 10 to follow for the 2021/22 National Hunt season
- Matt Chapman questions ‘cop out’ BHA handicap changes in Ruby Walsh debate
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