* Not an punter? Glenn Munsie from the TAB walks you through how to place your bet
* Does Mad Rush deserve to be favourite? Alan Jones talks to the TAB's Glenn Munsie
While Mad Rush seems to be punters' pick, the smart money in Melbourne this afternoon is tipped to be on another international. And why not? The mare's being ridden by 'The Boss'.
The legendary big race experience of Glen Boss, a three-time Cup champion jockey, seems to be steering the big players towards Irish raider Profound Beauty, but leading bookmaker Mark Read insists that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Read, whose agency IASbet yesterday took a bet of $500,000 to $70,000 with Tom Waterhouse, says Profound Beauty is a better racehorse is than Media Puzzle and is weighted perfectly.
"All the pros want to back it," Read told News Limited.
“She's a big Danehill mare. She's the same age as Makybe Diva before her first Cup win.
"At the weights I don't see how they can beat it. Dermot Weld has proven he knows exactly what's required, and the mail I've got is that she is absolutely flying on the track at Sandown."
Centrebet's Con Kafataris insists the training of Weld, whose successful Irish stable produced 2002 Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle, is a huge factor riding in Profound Beauty's favour.
So confident is he of Profound Beauty's grasp on the Cup, he's backed the mare to win more than $1 million.
"Some of the money is for a client, most of it is mine. I think she will run $7 or less," he told News Limited.
"With Dermot Weld as the trainer, you are backing the man as well as the horse."
The high-end plunge has firmed Profound Beauty from $8 to $7.50 with most leading bookmakers, while the TAB still has the Irish mare out at $9.10.
Mad Rush is holding favouritism at $5.70.
The Odds
RaceTAB odds for the Melbourne Cup
The Field
Septimus
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: J P Murtagh
Weight: 58.5kg
Master O'Reilly
Trainer: Danny O'Brien
Jockey: V Duric
Weight: 55kg
Honolulu
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: C O'Donoghue
Weight: 54.5kg
C'Est La Guerre
Trainer: J D Sadler
Jockey: B Prebble
Weight: 54kg
Nom Du Jeu
Trainer: M P Baker
Jockey: J Lloyd
Weight: 54kg
Yellowstone - Scratched
Zipping
Trainer: J D Sadler
Jockey: D Nikolic
Weight: 54kg
Mad Rush
Trainer: L M Cumani
Jockey: D Oliver
Weight: 53.5kg
Ice Chariot
Trainer: R E Maund
Jockey: M Rodd
Weight: 53kg
Viewed
Trainer: B Cummings
Jockey: B Shinn
Weight: 53kg
Littorio
Trainer: N A Blackiston
Jockey: S King
Weight: 52.5kg
Bauer
Trainer: L Cumani
Jockey: C Brown
Weight: 52kg
Boundless
Trainer: S J McKee
Jockey: G Childs
Weight 52kg
Gallopin
Trainer: D O'Brien
Jockey: J Winks
Weight: 52kg
Guyno
Trainer: L Luciani
Jockey: C Newitt
Weight 52kg
Zarita - Scratched
Newport
Trainer: P Perry
Jockey: C Symons
Weight: 51.5hg
Profound Beauty
Trainer: D Weld
Jockey: G Boss
Weight: 51.5kg
Red Lord
Trainer: A Cummings
Jockey: N Hall (a)
Weight: 51.5kg
Varevees
Trainer: R Gibson
Jockey: C Williams
Weight 51.5kg
Prize Lady
Trainer: G K Sanders
Jockey: M Sweeney
Weight: 51kg
Alessandro Volta
Trainer: A O'Brien
Jockey: W Lordan
Weight: 50.5kg
Barbaricus
Trainer: D O'Brien
Jockey: S Baster
Weight: 50.5kg
Moatize
Trainer: B Cummings
Jockey: Ms C Lindop
Weight: 50kg
As many punters and switched on casino news media types know, the smartest money bet is being an insider and putting these things on, running an agency, or being on the payroll of TAB, Crown, EzyBet or something to that effect. At least before pending changes to Australian sports betting and online casino laws. That will be covered at CAP Down Under. I'm waiting for Virgin Games and PKR to launch animated horse racing betting. Given the technology now it's viable. The Mad Rush is on.
(Credit: LiveNews.com.au)
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