Joseph O’Brien has fired a five-strong Irish raiding party at the race that stops a nation, and one of them is right at the top of the betting. The 166th Melbourne Cup is run at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November, with a full field of 24 chasing a share of A$10 million in prize money, and for Irish racing fans the alarm clock is the only obstacle.
Here is our guide to the Irish runners, the draw and how to follow it from home.
The Irish five
The Co Kilkenny trainer has saddled five of the 24 runners, according to the final field published by Australian racing outlets on Saturday:
- Trustyourinstinct, barrier 18, ridden by Australian superstar jockey James McDonald and carrying 57kg. Bets.com.au listed the Irish-bred stayer as second favourite on Saturday.
- Sons And Lovers, barrier 3, top weight on 57.5kg.
- Goodie Two Shoes, barrier 19, with Irish jockey Wayne Lordan on board at 55kg.
- Kizlyar, barrier 20, 53.5kg, ridden by Beau Mertens.
- James J Braddock, drawn widest of all in barrier 24, ridden by Craig Williams at 53.5kg.
Barriers above were confirmed by two independent Australian sites, Bets.com.au and Races.com.au. One Australian outlet published a different set of gate numbers, so punters should double-check the official racecard on the day.
The one they all have to beat
The market leader is Point Of Law, trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Ethan Brown from barrier 9 with a light 53kg, Bets.com.au reported. Maher is the dominant numbers trainer in the race, with several runners including the Irish-bred Juja Kibo and Zahrann.
There is plenty of Irish blood elsewhere in the field too. Hopewell Rock for British trainer George Boughey, Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, Chris Waller’s Soul Of Spain and Maher’s Royal Supremacy are all listed as Irish-bred, a reminder of how heavily Australia’s biggest staying race leans on Irish bloodstock.
Why the Irish keep coming back
The Melbourne Cup has become a regular target for Irish yards since Dermot Weld’s breakthrough win with Vintage Crop in 1993. Joseph O’Brien has already won it as a trainer, and his father Aidan has been a regular challenger, though Ballydoyle has no runner this year.
It comes at the end of a remarkable few days for Irish racing. Aidan O’Brien’s yard enjoyed a record-breaking Breeders’ Cup in the US at the weekend, and an O’Brien family double on two continents within a week would be quite the story.
The Cup is a handicap over 3,200m, about two miles, and the wide draws for James J Braddock and the Trustyourinstinct-Goodie Two Shoes-Kizlyar trio mean their riders will need to find cover early. Weight could also be a factor for Sons And Lovers, who carries more than any other runner.
What happens next
Because Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of Ireland, the race takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning Irish time. Check Irish racing broadcasters’ schedules for live coverage, or catch up on replays over breakfast. We will have the result and reaction on Tuesday morning.
Final scratchings can still happen before the race, and the Melbourne Cup has no traditional reserves, so any late withdrawal simply reduces the field, according to Races.com.au.
Please gamble responsibly. This article is not betting advice. If gambling is causing you problems, free support is available from organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous Ireland.
Sources
- Bets.com.au: Melbourne Cup 2026 – Barrier Draw & Final Field (31 October 2026)
- Races.com.au: 2026 Melbourne Cup field, barriers, horses and jockeys (updated 1 November 2026)
- RSN: Melbourne Cup barrier draw and field for 2026 (October 2026)
- Breednet: 2026 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw (31 October 2026)
Featured image: Flemington-race-course-180-degree by Synyan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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