Best bets, trifecta and quadrella

Threats: Half Yours comes off the back of a big Caulfield Cup win and weighs in nicely at 53kg. It has been bred for long distance travel and likes soft ground. Jockey Jamie Melham has his sights set on this race. Chris Waller’s Buckaroo runs a stunning second in the Cox Plate, the Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino looks set for an old-fashioned Cup run and is a strong Geelong Cup winner, while French galloper Presage Nocturne will have a great Caulfield Cup run. Waller seems confident about Valiant King’s chances.

Rudeness: Horse types you should consider for exotic bets such as triples and top fours include Middle Earth, Greater Felon and Land Legend.

Melbourne Cup tips: 1st half Yours, 2nd Torranzino, 3rd Presage Nocturne, 4th Buckaroo

Russell says: I stay away from Al Riffa because he is ranked number one and above in Australia. In contrast, Half Yours ticks all the boxes. Best running, ball jockey, good weight and ability to cover distance.

Russell’s best: Saint George (Race 6, No.5) – This horse was prepared for the Melbourne Cup last year so will find this event a little easier. It was the first time a flashing light race was run in the Seymour Cup. He’s a gray and grays love wetness.

Russell’s rough version: Torranzino (Race 7, No.23) – He’s my second pick for the Melbourne Cup and there are great chances either way. Instructor Paul Preusker is a great hospitality instructor. Celine Gaudry is the star of the future.

Cup Day trio: 1st: 2, 4, 6, 23. 2.: 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24. 3rd: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15 20, 22, 23, 24.

Cup Day quartet: 1st leg: 2, 4, 6, 23; 2nd leg: 2, 3, 13, 15; 3rd leg: 5, 7, 14, 15; 4th leg: 7, 8, 12, 19.

How and where to bet?

Of course, gamble responsibly and remember that TAB and pubs aren’t the only places you can bet. Most of the action takes place on phones and there is a wide range of online betting companies available if you download their apps.

You can’t use credit cards to fund many accounts, so you’ll need a deposit method you can limit.

Once this is done, there are a few different ways to place a bet. These: earning (your horse must win); place (your horse must finish first, second or third); in every way (you get dividends if your horse finishes in the top three); quinella (first two houses in any order); full (first two houses in full order); trio (first three houses); or top four. You can also place mysterious bets If studying weight, form, barriers, jockeys or trainers is not the way you want to spend your time, TABs are.

Remember, the Melbourne Cup is the seventh race at Flemington. If you know this and the number of horses you aim to support, you will find a way.

Also understand that if a horse pays $6 to win, you will receive $6 for every dollar you bet on the horse if it wins. Obviously, the higher the odds, as determined by experts where punters place their money, or through a pool that distributes the odds, the greater the prize, as higher-priced horses are considered (for a number of reasons) to have less chance of winning.