The race that stops the nation is almost here, with the 2026 Melbourne Cup set to take centre stage at Flemington.

With plenty of contenders looking to take out the $10 million race, experts, celebrities and racing personalities have weighed in with their picks for this year’s Cup.

See below for a list of tips for this year race, with only a handful of experts so far backing Point of Law as the winner and English raider Hopewell Rock proving a very popular choice among experts.

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JIM CASSIDY’S FORM GUIDE: Legendary two-time Cup winner’s horse-by-horse verdict and predicted first 4

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ODDS: Latest Cup betting market and movers

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Scroll down to see who everyone backed!

JIM CASSIDY (Fox Sports Australia)

1st – Middle Earth (4)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – So You Are (16)

4th – Zahrann (15)

TREVOR MARSHALLSEA (Fox Sports Australia)

1st – Middle Earth (4)

2nd – Goodie Two Shoes (10)

3rd – Juja Kibo (11)

4th – Point Of Law (20)

CAMPBELL BROWN (Former AFL player)

1st – Juja Kibo (11)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – Zahrann (15)

4th – Knight’s Choice (3)

DANIEL SANKEY (News Corp)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – Middle Earth (4)

4th – Mr Monaco (22)

GILBERT GARDINER (Herald Sun)

1st – Middle Earth (4)

2nd – Shockletz (24)

3rd – Juja Kibo (11)

4th – Zakouma (23)

BRAD WATERS (Racenet)

1st – Point Of Law (20)

2nd – Zahrann (15)

3rd – Middle Earth (4)

4th – Vauban (5)

GLENN McFARLANE (Herald Sun)

1st – Point Of Law (20)

2nd – Trustyourinstinct (2)

3rd – Shockletz (24)

4th – Middle Earth (4)

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FRANCESCA CUMANI (Channel 9)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Goodie Two Shoes (10)

3rd – Mr Monaco (22)

4th – Middle Earth (4)

ALEX DONNELLY (Racenet)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Sons And Lovers (1)

3rd – Trustyourinstinct (2)

4th – Point Of Law (20)

KATELYN McDONALD (7Horse Racing)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Enfjaar (6)

3rd – Shockletz (24)

4th – Trustyourinstinct (2)

NIGEL CARMODY (Racing.com)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – Shockletz (24)

4th – Trustyourinstinct (2)

CLINTON PAYNE (Racenet)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – Shockletz (24)

4th – Zakouma (23)

SHAYNE O’CASS (Racenet)

1st – Sons And Lovers (1)

2nd – Point Of Law (20)

3rd – Enfjaar (6)

4th – James J Braddock (18)

EDWARD SADLER (Sporting Life)

1st – Juja Kibo (11)

2nd – Hopewell Rock (12)

3rd – Shockletz (24)

JARRYD BARCA (ESPN)

1st – Hopewell Rock (12)

2nd – Trustyourinstinct (2)

3rd – Point Of Law (20)

4th – Zahrann (15)



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