Sports · Other Sports · 1 hr ago
Melbourne Cup guide ranks the leading contenders
A new guide assesses the leading chances for this year’s Melbourne Cup, Australia’s major horse race.
Point of Law is now the favourite after winning the Geelong Cup.
The guide lists the top 24 prospects, ordered from the highest to the lowest weight, while noting 31 horses as early chances.
The final field will contain 24 horses and is due to be confirmed on Saturday night.
The runners include horses trained in Australia, Ireland, Japan and France.
The guide will be updated once the field is set, with Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne assessing each runner.
That update will give readers a closer look at the contenders before the race.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an early guide ranking leading contenders for the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
The guide assesses the chances of the leading horses and says the final field of 24 will be set on Saturday night.
It ranks the top 24 by likely saddle-cloth numbers, from top weight to bottom weight.
The guide says Stinger Glass’s chances depend heavily on whether the track is dry.
It describes Middle Earth as a winning chance and Trustyourinstinct as a top-five hope.
- Who
- The leading contenders for the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
- What
- The Sydney Morning Herald published a guide assessing and ranking the horses’ chances.
- When
- The guide was published on October 27, 2026. The field is due to be finalised on Saturday night.
- Where
- The Melbourne Cup is held in Australia; the guide also refers to track work at Werribee.
- Why
- To give readers an early assessment of the leading contenders before the field is finalised.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Sydney Morning Herald published its early guide to the leading Melbourne Cup contenders.
The field of 24 is due to be finalised.
- Publication date
- October 27, 2026
- Melbourne Cup field
- 24 horses
- Guide coverage
- Top 31 chances, with the top 24 ranked
- Stinger Glass
- 57kg
- Middle Earth
- 56.5kg
What people are saying
If dry, can win. If wet, could finish last.
A winning chance.
Top five hope.