2024 Melbourne Cup top 5 & 10 betting tips

5 and 10 Betting Tips

The 2024 Melbourne Cup is just around the corner and in arguably the hardest race to predict on the Australian racing calendar, any way you can extend your margin of error is like gold for punters.

Smart bookmakers know the importance of making its customer’s dollars count, which is why the company has opened extended markets for the race that stops a nation.

This year several horse racing bookmakers like Ned and Ladbrokes are offering bets for horses to run in the top 5, or in the top 10 horses across the line first.

The regular win and place bets will be available for the race, but anyone wanting to give themselves a little bit more insurance heading into Tuesday’s big one can bet on their horse to finish inside the top five or top 10.

We took a look at the best horses you should bet on in each market (excluding favourites) to make yourself some cash on the most important day in Australian racing.


Best options for Top 5 betting market in the Melbourne Cup

Circle Of Fire Silks

3. Circle Of Fire (24)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Mark Zahra
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 098×1
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Fiery Sunset (GB)
Sharp N Smart Silks

6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)

  • T: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 3020x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Redwood (GB)
  • Dam: Queen Margaret (NZ)
Zardozi Silks

14. Zardozi (4)

  • T: James Cummings
  • J: Andrea Atzeni
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 54256
  • Age: 4YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Kingman (GB)
  • Dam: Chanderi (GB)
Interpretation Silks

18. Interpretation (14)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Teo Nugent
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 26800
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Daldiyna (FR)
Saint George Silks

22. Saint George (9)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Tyler Schiller
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 5948x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Grey
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
  • Dam: Lady Dragon (IRE)

Circle Of Fire is quoted at +333 in top 5 Melbourne Cup betting, while Zardozi is towards the top of the Top 5 betting markets at +125.

Ciaron Maher duo Interpretation and Saint George hold a quote of +210 & +260 respectively, whilst Kiwi stayer Sharp ‘N’ Smart is at a ludicrous price of +600 considering his ability.


Best options for Top 10 betting markets in the Melbourne Cup

If you are going to have a punt on the 2024 Melbourne Cup Top 10 betting market, you’ll need to go wide to find reasonable odds, given almost half the field will finish in the top 10.

Sharp N Smart Silks

6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)

  • T: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 3020x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Redwood (GB)
  • Dam: Queen Margaret (NZ)
Athabascan Silks

10. Athabascan (2)

  • T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
  • J: Zac Lloyd
  • W: 52kg
  • F: 1008x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Alzubra (GB)
The Map Silks

23. The Map (23)

  • T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
  • J: Rachel King
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 6509x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Alpine Eagle
  • Dam: This Moment

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will go around in the 2024 Melbourne Cup as a +180 chance to run in the first 10 horses home for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Graeme Rogerson and his wife Deborah.

Both Athabascan and The Map will be sent out as +150 chances to run in the top 10.


The 2024 Melbourne Cup will be one of the biggest betting events of the year. Australian gamblers are spoiled for choice nowadays when it comes to online betting options, but the question remains: which bookmaker offers the best Melbourne Cup betting odds?

Best odds at 2024 Melbourne Cup betting sites

All of the online bookmakers featured on HorseBetting.com.au offer competitive prices for every runner in the 2024 Melbourne Cup betting market.

Best bookmakers for 2024 Melbourne Cup odds

HorseBetting.com.au only features Melbourne Cup betting sites that offer quality products, great value and top-shelf customer service. Check out the links below to find out more and get started.


Melbourne Cup Runner-by-Runner betting guide & racing tips

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