Racecourses › Melbourne Cup 2026
Tuesday 3 November 2026
The race that stops a nation: the 166th Melbourne Cup, a A$10 million handicap over two miles (3,200m) at Flemington. A field of 24, with a big team from Britain and Ireland, led by five runners for Joseph O'Brien. The full field with barriers, the UK start time, the European runners to watch and last year's result.
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Races
Expected going: soft. Flemington was Good 4 on Sunday, with 5 to 20mm of rain forecast for Monday; the track manager expects Soft 5 to Soft 6 on Cup day.
European runners to watch
Second and third last year, Goodie Two Shoes and Middle Earth, are both back for another go.
The field: number, trainer, jockey, barrier, weight and best price
| 1 | Sons And Lovers (GB) T: Joseph O'Brien · J: Dylan Browne McMonagle | Barrier 3 57.5kg | 16/1 |
| 2 | Trustyourinstinct (IRE) T: Joseph O'Brien · J: James McDonald | Barrier 18 57kg | 15/2 |
| 3 | Knight's Choice T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon · J: Robbie Dolan | Barrier 2 56.5kg | 40/1 |
| 4 | Middle Earth (GB) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Mark Zahra | Barrier 1 56.5kg | 18/1 |
| 5 | Vauban (FR) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott · J: Jordan Childs | Barrier 22 56.5kg | 50/1 |
| 6 | Enfjaar (IRE) T: Roger Varian · J: Ray Dawson | Barrier 8 56kg | 28/1 |
| 7 | Royal Supremacy (IRE) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Ben Allen | Barrier 21 56kg | 50/1 |
| 8 | Wine Dark Sea (GB) T: Harry Charlton · J: Damian Lane | Barrier 23 56kg | 40/1 |
| 9 | Asterix (NZ) T: Chris Waller · J: Jye McNeil | Barrier 6 55kg | 66/1 |
| 10 | Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) T: Joseph O'Brien · J: Wayne Lordan | Barrier 19 55kg | 22/1 |
| 11 | Juja Kibo (IRE) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Sam Clipperton | Barrier 14 55kg | 12/1 |
| 12 | Hopewell Rock (IRE) T: George Boughey · J: Zac Lloyd | Barrier 15 54.5kg | 13/2 |
| 13 | Onesmoothoperator (USA) T: Tim Fitzsimmons · J: Declan Bates | Barrier 13 54.5kg | 80/1 |
| 14 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) T: Chris Waller · J: Tommy Berry | Barrier 5 54.5kg | 25/1 |
| 15 | Zahrann (IRE) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Ben Melham | Barrier 11 54.5kg | 30/1 |
| 16 | So You Are T: Bjorn Baker · J: Rachel King | Barrier 7 54kg | 10/1 |
| 17 | Future History (GB) T: Gregory Hickman · J: Jamie Melham | Barrier 12 53.5kg | 50/1 |
| 18 | James J Braddock (GB) T: Joseph O'Brien · J: Craig Williams | Barrier 24 53.5kg | 18/1 |
| 19 | Kizlyar (IRE) T: Joseph O'Brien · J: Beau Mertens | Barrier 20 53.5kg | 40/1 |
| 20 | Point Of Law (GB) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Ethan Brown | Barrier 9 53kg | 7/1 |
| 21 | Strictly Business T: Thomas Carberry · J: Michael Dee | Barrier 4 53kg | 80/1 |
| 22 | Mr Monaco (GB) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Jabez Johnstone (a) | Barrier 16 52.5kg | 22/1 |
| 23 | Zakouma T: Grahame Begg · J: William Pike | Barrier 10 52kg | 25/1 |
| 24 | Shockletz (NZ) T: Ciaron Maher · J: Harry Coffey | Barrier 17 51kg | 10/1 |
Best UK prices on Monday morning, 2 November, from firms paying 5 places at 1/5 odds (Sky Bet pays 6). Prices move, so check before you bet. As drawn on Saturday 31 October; GB, IRE, FR, USA and NZ show where a horse was bred, not where it is trained.
RESULT: 1st Point Of Law (Ethan Brown), 2nd Zahrann, 3rd Juja Kibo, all trained by Ciaron Maher. 4th Sons And Lovers, 5th Royal Supremacy. Asterix was scratched.
Melbourne Cup 2025 at Flemington
| Melbourne Cup (Group 1) 2m (3,200m) · Turf | Half Yours T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy · J: Jamie Melham | 7/1 |
Tuesday 3 November 2026, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. It is always run on the first Tuesday in November.
The race starts at 3pm Melbourne time, which is 4am UK time on Tuesday 3 November (provisional).
3,200 metres, just under two miles, on turf. It is a handicap, so the better horses carry more weight.
A$10 million in total, with A$4.5 million to the winner plus the trophy.
Half Yours, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy and ridden by Jamie Melham, in 2025. Goodie Two Shoes was second and Middle Earth third, and both run again this year.
Yes. Joseph O'Brien has five, and George Boughey, Roger Varian and Harry Charlton each send one. Several more were bred and raced in Europe before moving to Australian stables.
Sky Sports Racing usually shows the Melbourne Cup live in the UK and Ireland.
Start time is provisional. Barriers and riders as drawn on Saturday 31 October; late scratchings can change the field. See every big meeting on our big race calendar. Get updates through the day on our free Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
