Melbourne Cup form guide 

2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup

Race 7 5.00pm (NZ time) Tuesday
A$5,500,000, 3200m:

Form guide details - example horse Septimus
1=Number the horse wears, 1111= Results of previous races, (10)=starting gate, 58.5=weight the horse has to carry (the jockey's weight and additional weights carried in the saddle if necessary), (Sadler's Wells-Caladira)=horse's parentage

1. 1111 Septimus (10) 58.5 (Sadler's Wells-Caladira): Has come to Australia from Ireland with a big reputation and has won eight of his 12 starts. The distance will pose no trouble for him and he has won on all types of ground. The biggest hurdle for him to overcome will be the weight (58.5kg). No horse has won the race with this much weight since Think Big in 1974.
Jockey: Johnny Murtagh. Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.

2. 6270 Master O'Reilly (6) 55 (O'Reilly-Without Remorse): Won the Caulfield Cup last year but didn't see out the journey in the Melbourne Cup. Has had a hardened preparation and was doing his best work at the finish when he was seventh in this year's Caulfield Cup.
Jockey: Viad Duric. Trainer: Danny O'Brien.

3. 4161 Honolulu (24) 54.5 (Montjeu-Cerulean Sky): Lighly raced stayer who has built up a handy record in the United Kingdom and is bred to stay the journey. Won the Doncaster Cup in England at his last start over 3621m.
Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue. Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.

4. 7946 C'est La Guerre (5) 54 (Shinko King-La Magnefique): Will have his chances improved greatly if there is rain about. He won the New Zealand Derby this year beating home Nom Du Jeu and Red Ruler. Runs of late haven't been too bad. Jockey: Brett Prebble. Trainer: John Sadler.

5. D232 Nom Du Jeu (1) 54 (Montjeu-Prized Gem): Won the AJC Derby this year and has a big reputation. Good second in the Caulfield Cup when finishing off the race better than anything. Dam won over 3200m and can handle most types of tracks.
Jockey: Jeff Lloyd. Trainer: Murray Baker.

6. Yellowstone - scratched

7. 9732 Zipping (16) 54 (Danehill-Social Scene): Has finished fourth in the past two runnings of the Melbourne Cup and his latest efforts have been very encouraging including a second placing in the Cox Plate. Has to rate a strong chance here.
Jockey: Danny Nikolic. Trainer: John Sadler.

8. 2124 Mad Rush (4) 53.5 (Lemon Drop Kid-Revonde): Ran the race of an improver when an unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Cup. Has strong reputation and will be very competitive here. Looks a serious each-way chance. Just needs luck in the running this time.
Jockey: Damien Oliver. Trainer: Luca Cumani.

9. 3835 Ice Chariot (22) 53 (Semipaletinsk-Snow Chariot): Finished a dour fourth in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes and could give some cheek here. Failed in this race last year but should be given another chance to make amends. Former Queensland Derby winner.
Jockey: Michael Rodd. Trainer: Ron Maund.

10. 1870 Viewed (9) 53 (Scenic-Lovers Knot): Trained by the master Bart Cummings but form of late has not been inspiring and will require major improvement to even figure close. Hard to have.
Jockey: Steven Arnold. Trainer: Bart Cummings.

11. 3158 Littorio (17) 52.5 (Bellotto-Our Centessa): Good fifth in the Caulfield Cup when hitting the line strongly. Also won the Turnbull Stakes three starts back. Merits strong consideration.
Jockey: Steven King. Trainer: Nigel Blakiston.

12. 8271 Bauer (13) 52 (Halling-Deli's Gray): Winner of the Geelong Cup in fine style and will give punters a strong representation for their money. Has loads of stamina and will be best suited if the race turns into a real grinding finish.
Jockey: Corey Brown. Trainer: Luca Cumani.

13. 1540 Boundless (20) 52 (Van Nistelrooy-Nothing Less): From a strong staying family and won the New Zealand Oaks this year. Finished a close fourth in the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings last month which clinched her trip over for this race.
Jockey: Greg Childs. Trainer: Stephen McKee.

14. 2541 Gallopin (21) 52 (Pins-Carla Rossi): New Zealand-owned galloper who is lightly raced. Nice win last time in the Moonee Valley Cup and has come into best form at the perfect time. Don't leave out of combinations.
Jockey: James Winks. Trainer: Danny O'Brien.

15. 5955 Gunyo (8) 52 (O'Reilly-River Century): Well-bred type but recent form has comprised only battling efforts and will need a turbo charge added to gear to have a winning chance. Hard to have.
Jockey: Brad Rawiller. Trainer: Lou Luciani.

16. Zarita - scratched

17. 0915 Newport (15) 51.5 (Encosta De Lago-Sibellenne): Prefers rain-affected ground. Won the Metropolitan in Sydney but this has not generally been a good guide to this race. Solid effort in the Moonee Valley Cup to finish fifth.
Jockey: Nash Rawiller. Trainer: Paul Perry.

18. 2113 Profound Beauty (2) 51.5 (Danehill-Diamond Trim): In excellent form and from stable of legendary Irish trainer Dermot Weld who has already prepared two Melbourne Cup winners. She has been working in fine style since arriving in Melbourne. Ready to run a big race.
Jockey: Glen Boss. Trainer: Dermot Weld.

19. 2846 Red Lord (14) 51.5 (Redoute's Choice-Dame Cath): Finished fifth in the Sydney Cup last season. Has been going fair races without any brilliant. Take on trust.
Jockey: Nicholas Hall. Trainer: Anthony Cummings.

20. 7698 Varavees (23) 51.5 (Kahyssi-Dense Bretonne): French mare whose recent form is not all that encouraging. However, she has been a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter. Respect.
Jockey: Craig Williams. Trainer: Richard Gibson.

21. 1860 Prize Lady (18) 51 (Prized-Pen Bal Lady: Has won two past runnings of the Auckland Cup. Will have chances improved if there is any rain about. One of few NZ-trained runners in the field and can be competitive Will get the distance.
Jockey: Mark Sweeney. Trainer: Graeme Sanders.

22. 6460 Alessandro Volta (11) 50.5. (Montjeu-Venture Highway): Another runner from the powerful Aidan O'Brien stable and will probably be up on the speed from the outset. Others preferred though and win will come as major surprise.
Jockey: Wayne Lordan. Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.

23. 4323 Barbaricus (3) 50.5 (Lion Hunter-Light Of Erin): Brave third in the Caulfield Cup and top run in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. Comes in well at the weights here and not the least of chances. Has to be watched.
Jockey: Stephen Baster. Trainer: Danny O'Brien.

24. 5621 Moatize (19) 50 (Danehill Dancer-Shezabeel): Made the field belatedly with a determined win in Saturday's Saab Quality. Trained by the Cups King Bart Cummings so needs to be respected on that score alone.
Jockey: Clare Lindop. Trainer: Bart Cummings.

SCRATCHED

Zarita (7) 52 (Pentire-Gin Player): Not all that far away when a good fourth in the Cox Plate last time. New Zealand-bred mare who was dual Group 1 winner as a three-year-old. Has prospects. Jockey: Dwayne Dunn. Trainer: Pat Hyland.

Yellowstone (12) 54 (Rock Of Gibraltar-Love And Affection): He injured his hip last week when he got cast in his box. Trainer says he has fully recovered from this injury but there will be a lingering doubt which won't be known until the race.
Jockey: John Egan. Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam.