Vauban is being strongly backed by horse racing experts to bounce back from a 2023 disappointment and win this year’s Melbourne Cup.
The seven-year-old from the stable of master Irish trainer Willie Mullins is a $6.50 favourite with the bookmakers (as of Monday morning), after also entering the race as the favourite last year.
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That moniker has been somewhat of a curse in recent years though as Vauban finished in the back half of the field twelve months ago to continue the streak of a favourite not winning since Fiorente in 2013.
But the experts believe Vauban will be better for the run, is in better form twelve months on and can hand Mullins is first Cup (the closest he has come is second in 2015).
Stablemate Absurde also received a lot of love from the expert tipsters, while Onesmootheroperator, Buckaroo, Zardozi and Sea King are all highly-fancied.
Who will be on the money come Tuesday afternoon? See who those in the know are backing.
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JIM CASSIDY (foxsports.com.au)
1. SEA KING
2. Interpretation
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Buckaroo
TREVOR MARSHALLSEA (foxsports.com.au)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Sea King
3. Absurde
4. Interpretation
DANIEL NUTTAL (foxsports.com.au)
1. VAUBAN
2. Kovalica
3. Saint George
4. Athabascan
SCOTT GULLAN (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Buckaroo
3. Interpretation
4. The Map
BEN DORRIES (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Sea King
3. Interpretation
4. Knight’s Choice
TRENTON AKERS (News Corp)
1. VAUBAN
2. Land Legend
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Absurde
CLINTON PAYNE (Racenet.com.au)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Absurde
4. Zardozi
MITCH COHEN (News Corp)
1. BUCKAROO
2. Vauban
3. Circle of Fire
4. Onesmoothoperator
SHAYNE O’CASS (News Corp)
1. ZARDOZI
2. Kovalica
3. Vauban
4. Athabascan
JETT HATTON (News Corp)
1. BUCKAROO
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Circle of Fire
4. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
MICHELLE PAYNE (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. ABSURDE
2. Vauban
3. Buckaroo
4. Okita Soushi
JAMES LAMB (Punters.com.au)
1. BUCKAROO
2. Okita Soushi
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Vauban
DANIEL SANKEY (News Corp)
1. ABSURDE
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Land Legend
4. Vauban
ANDREW RULE (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Vauban
3. Okita Soushi
4. Absurde
GILBERT GARDINER (News Corp)
1. VAUBAN
2. Valiant King
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
BRAD WATERS (News Corp)
1. BUCKAROO
2. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
3. Vauban
4. Okita Soushi
MORE MELBOURNE CUP NEWS
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ULTIMATE GUIDE: How much winner gets and the horses punters are backing
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WEATHER FORECAST: What is the weather forecast for the 2024 Melbourne Cup?
BARRIER DRAW: Race blown open after favourite shocker
GLENN MCFARLANE (News Corp)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Sea King
4. Onesmoothoperator
CHRIS VERNUCCIO (News Corp)
1. VAUBAN
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Absurde
4. Buckaroo
RAY THOMAS (News Corp)
1. ABSURDE
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Buckaroo
4. Zardozi
ADAM SHEEY (News Corp)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Zardozi
4. Land Legend
FRANCESCA CUMANI (Channel 9)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Absurde
4. Zardozi
SIMON O’DONNELL (Channel 9)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Vauban
3. Zardozi
4. Saint George
DANNY RUSSELL (The Age)
1. VAUBAN
2. Okita Soushi
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Buckaroo
PETER RYAN (The Age)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Land Legend
4. Onesmoothoperator
NICK QUINN (Ladbrokes)
1. BUCKAROO
2. Vauban
3. Kovalica
4. Onesmoothoperator
GLEN BOSS (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. VAUBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Okita Soushi
4. Onesmoothoperator
KATE BROMLEY (Ladbrokes)
1. ZARDOZI
2. Vauban
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Sea King
MITCH LEWIS (Betfair)
1. VAUBAN
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Zardozi
4. Buckaroo
