Melbourne Cup Form Guide: Every Runner Analysed Ahead Of The Race That Stops The Nation

It's the first Tuesday in November which means it's time to dust off the bag of fruit and look forward to the race that stops a nation, the $7.75 million Melbourne Cup.

With a capacity field of 24 and a number of international runners, it's always a tricky affair to line up, but we've done our best to narrow it down to the top five.

1) Twilight Payment (IRE) (2) 58kg

Trainer: Joseph O'Brien

Jockey: Jye McNeil

36 - 9:11:8 $5,682,805

Was a strong winner of this race last year and has had a win and three placings from five outings since. Has to carry an extra 2.5kg this time around which doesn't sound like much but try lugging that over two miles. Weight has been known to stop a train and this Irishman would need to be very good to go back-to-back.

2) Incentivise (16) 57kg

Trainer: Peter Moody

Jockey: Brett Prebble

12 - 9:0:0 $4,643,300

Only eight months ago this guy was getting towelled up in a Toowoomba maiden. Fast forward to now and he's put nine wins together on the bounce, including three Group 1's. His Caulfield Cup win last time out was as arrogant as Conor McGregor and it would be one of the feel-good stories of the carnival if he saluted.

3) Spanish Mission (USA) (14) 57kg

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Craig Williams

18 - 6:4:3 $2,092,657

Has been racing in elite company in the Northern hemisphere and has won up to 3600m before so the two-mile trip won't pose a problem. Gets Williams in the irons which is a tick and should be in it for a very long way.

4) Verry Elleegant (NZ) (19) 57kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: James McDonald

33 - 14:7:3 $9,690,744

Champion mare who has almost $10 million in the bank. Wasn't disgraced in last year's edition where she finished 7th hitting the line and has one of the best jockeys in the world on her back. Right in the mix.

5) Explosive Jack (NZ) (4) 54kg

Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: John Allen

12 - 5:1:2 $1,814,730

Had an incredible three-year-old campaign picking up three Derbies in the process but looked very plain in the Caulfield Cup last time out when finishing second-last. Might have lost his pop.

6) The Chosen One (NZ) (5) 54kg

Trainers: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman

Jockey: Damien Lane

36 - 6:5:3 $1,899,409

Was a very handy fourth in last year's Cup and looked good running second in the Herbert Power two starts back. Didn't really show up in the Caulfield Cup last start but can bounce back and looks a sneaky chance at big odds.

7) Delphi (IRE) (3) 53.5kg

Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman

Jockey: Damien Oliver

10 - 5:1:0 $360,841

Lightly-raced galloper who has a solid strike rate winning five from ten starts. Had excuses in the Caulfield Cup last time out and gets the services of Ollie in the irons from the low draw. Maybe a place.

8) Ocean Billy (NZ) (13) 53.5kg

Trainers: Chris Waller

Jockey: Damien Thornton

25 - 7:1:1 $547,720

Got into this race by winning the Auckland Cup eight months ago but hasn't fired a shot since. Looks to be making up the numbers.

9) Selino (GB) (24) 53.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Ron Stewart

20 - 3:5:2 $1,481,470

Was a winner of the Sydney Cup earlier in the year which is over the same distance as this. Would be a fairy-tale for hoop Ronnie Stewart who doesn't get many of these opportunities. Can run a race at big odds if the track is dry.

10) Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (22) 53kg

Trainer: Denis Pagan

Jockey: Lachlan King

11 - 1:1:2 $1,268,675

Trained by AFL premiership-winning coach Denis Pagan and will be ridden by one of only two apprentices in the field, Lachlan King. Won last year's Victoria Derby but hasn't been able to get out of his own way since. You'll be happy to draw him in the sweep as last place is a definite possibility.

11) Knights Order (IRE) (9) 53kg

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse

21 - 7:0:2 $473,501

Earned his spot in this field by winning the Brisbane Cup earlier in the year but hasn't really shown up in four runs this time in. Others look much stronger and a top-three finish would shock.

12) Persan (11) 53kg

Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Luke Currie

27 - 7:5:3 $1,404,721

Was a very respectable fifth in last year's running and has been thereabouts in all three starts this preparation. Loves racing at Flemington where he has four wins and two placings from ten outings and looks a genuine top-three contender.

13) Carif (8) 52.5kg

Trainers: Peter & Paul Snowden

Jockey: Blaike McDougall

37 - 3:8:1 $730,385

Is proven over this staying test but has looked pretty ordinary at his past few starts and doesn't pose a threat to the top selections.

14) Master Of Wine (GER) (6) 52.5kg

Trainers: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

Jockey: Fred Kersley

28 - 5:5:4 $900,309

Showed a glimpse of form two starts back but was very flat in the Caulfield Cup last start. Hard to have in this line-up.

15) Pondus (GB) (1) 52.5kg

Trainer: Robert Hickmott

Jockey: Rachel King

19 - 3:7:1 $336,109

Is owned by Lloyd Williams who knows a thing or seven about winning the Melbourne Cup. Will be ridden by the only female jockey in the field and we know what Michelle Payne did back in 2015. Might run a cheeky race at good odds.

16) Grand Promenade (GB) (21) 52kg

Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

19 - 8:4:2 $1,009,800

Is a very honest conveyance only missing the top five once in 19 career starts. Loves this track with three wins and a second from just five attempts and looks to play a major role in the finish.

17) Miami Bound (NZ) (17) 52kg

Trainer: Danny O'Brien

Jockey: Patrick Maloney

26 - 5:0:5 $1,672,200

Ran 14th in last year's edition and hasn't really set the world on fire in recent efforts. Tends to mix her form and cannot entertain.

18) Port Guillaume (FR) (23) 52kg

Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes

Jockey: Harry Coffey

10 - 4:0:0 $308,688

Former Frenchie who hasn't done much in four local runs. You'd love to see him run well for jockey Harry Coffey but will jump at cricket score odds and will need plenty of favours to figure in the finish.

19) She's Ideel (20) 52kg

Trainer: Bjorn Baker

Jockey: Craig Newitt

25 - 6:6:5 $1,101,075

A very consistent mare who handles all going and was a solid fourth in the Sydney Cup earlier this year. Rarely runs a bad race and looks one for the exotics.

20) Future Score (IRE) (15) 51.5kg

Trainer: Matt Cumani

Jockey: Dean Yendall

22 - 6:2:4 $565,381

Has been well covered at his past few outings and has only won up to 2600m. Will struggle to make an impression against this lot.

21) Tralee Rose (NZ) (12) 51kg

Trainer: Symon Wilde

Jockey: Dean Holland

15 - 6:4:2 $744,725

Is a model of consistency who always puts in her best. Was a strong Geelong Cup winner at her latest effort and that has proven to be a good form race for this in the past. Has never missed a drum at this track in four starts and looks a very good prospect.

22) Floating Artist (GB) (10) 50kg

Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Jockey: Teodore Nugent

16 - 5:2:1 $479,018

Import who has been in red-hot form of late with three wins and two placings from his past five runs. Gets the bare minimum of weight and no surprise to see him right there when the whips are cracking.

23) Great House (IRE) (7) 50kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Michael Dee

15 - 5:2:3 $694,290

Scraped into this field with a win in the Hotham on Saturday. Has yet to win past 2500m but gets a postage stamp on his back and can earn a cheque.

24) Sir Lucan (IRE) (18) 50kg

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jockey: Glen Boss

8 - 2:1:0 $152,926

The wildcard of the race. Is the most lightly raced galloper in the field and had mixed his form in the Northern hemisphere. To be ridden by three-time Cup winner Glen Boss and a bold showing wouldn't surprise.

OUR TIPS:

1st: No.12 PERSAN (Each-way)

2nd: No.2 INCENTIVISE

3rd: No.16 GRAND PROMENADE

4th: No. 21 TRALEE ROSE

5th: No. 4 VERRY ELLEEGANT

Best long-shot: No. 9 SELINO