The 2025 Melbourne Cup is here — and if the expert tips are anything to go by, the race is looking wide open.
Experts are firmly split over who takes out the race that stops the nation. Cup legend Jim Cassidy has backed a surprise result, while Presage Nocturne, Half Yours and Absurde are popular picks.
But there is one runner that appears to be edging slightly ahead among the tippers.
Scroll down to see who’s backing who for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
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MORE MELBOURNE CUP
JIM CASSIDY’S VERDICT: All 24 runners with long shot backed
TREVOR MARSHALLSEA’S FORM GUIDE: Every runner rated
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know
WEATHER: Flemington forecast as rain looms
ORDER OF ENTRY: Who made the cut, and who didn’t
MELBOURNE CUP BARRIER DRAW: How every horse fared
DUMMIES’ GUIDE: How to put on a bet
JIM CASSIDY (foxsports.com.au)
1. MEYDAAN
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Presage Nocturne
4. Al Riffa
TREVOR MARSHALLSEA (foxsports.com.au)
1. PRESAGE NOCTURNE
2. Meydaan
3. Flatten The Curve
2025 Melbourne Cup barrier draw | 00:32
DANIEL NUTTALL (foxsports.com.au)
2. Absurde
3. Goodie Two Shoes
4. River of Stars
DAMIEN OLIVER (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
2. Presage Nocturne
3. Half Yours
MICHELLE PAYNE (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. ABSURDE
2. Half Yours
3. Flatten The Curve
4. Torranzino
2. Valiant King
3. Half Yours
4. Presage Nocturne
FRANCESCA CUMANI (Channel 9)
1. PRESAGE NOCTURNE
2. Absurde
3. Goodie Two Shoes
4. Al Riffa
JAMES LAMB (Punters.com)
1. VALIANT KING
2. Buckaroo
3. Al Riffa
4. Meydann
SIMON O’DONNELL (Channel 9)
1. VALIANT KING
2. Presage Nocturne
3. Half Yours
4. AL Riffa
RYAN COOK (Ladbrokes)
1. VALIANT KING
2. River Of Stars
3. Absurde
4. Torranzino
TRAV NOONAN (RSN)
1. FLATTEN THE CURVE
2. Al Riffa
3. Half Yours
4. Absurde
RAY THOMAS (Racenet)
1. VALIANT KING
2. Half Yours
3. Absurde
4. More Felons
GLEN BOSS (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. BUCKAROO
MORE TO COME