After Nick Williams drew barrier 23 last night, Yucatan has drifted as favourite with TAB from $4.50 to $5 for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Since the barrier draw took place, the most popular runner has been Magic Circle, who shares the second line of betting with Cross Counter at $9.
”Aside from the support for Magic Circle, the biggest firmer following the barrier draw has been Cross Counter, who has shortened from $11 to $9,” TAB’s Trent Langskaill said.
The third and fourth best backed horses after the barrier draw (Yucatan has been the second most popular) have been Youngstar ($16) and Best Solution ($13).
“Before the barriers were determined, one punter placed $5,000 at $17 on Youngstar yesterday, while another customer had $5,000 at $15 on Best Solution, who won the Caulfield Cup at his last start,” Langskaill said.
TAB’s MARKET FOR THE 2018 MELBOURNE CUP
| Number | 2018 Melbourne Cup | Barrier | Official Nominations Announced | Biggest Price | Before Lexus Stakes | Before Barrier Draw | After Barrier Draw | NOW |
| 1 | BEST SOLUTION | 6 | $51 | $51 | $15 | $15 | $13 | $13 |
| 2 | THE CLIFFSOFMOHER | 9 | $26 | $26 | $13 | $15 | $15 | $16 |
| 3 | MAGIC CIRCLE | 17 | $21 | $41 | $9 | $9 | $9 | $9 |
| 4 | CHESTNUT COAT | 4 | $26 | $151 | $51 | $51 | $34 | $34 |
| 5 | MUNTAHAA | 13 | $21 | $26 | $11 | $11 | $11 | $11 |
| 6 | SOUND CHECK | 16 | $51 | $51 | $51 | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| 7 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN | 18 | $51 | $51 | $51 | $51 | $51 | $41 |
| 8 | ACE HIGH | 22 | $51 | $101 | $67 | $67 | $101 | $71 |
| 9 | MARMELO | 10 | $26 | $26 | $17 | $17 | $17 | $16 |
| 10 | AVILIUS | 11 | $26 | $26 | $13 | $13 | $13 | $13 |
| 11 | YUCATAN | 23 | $51 | $101 | $4.50 | $4.20 | $4.50 | $5 |
| 12 | AUVRAY | 1 | $51 | $101 | $101 | $101 | $67 | $71 |
| 13 | FINCHE | 15 | $51 | $51 | $26 | $26 | $26 | $26 |
| 14 | RED CARDINAL | 5 | $101 | $201 | $101 | $101 | $67 | $51 |
| 15 | VENGEUR MASQUE | 2 | $51 | $101 | $67 | $67 | $51 | $61 |
| 16 | VENTURA STORM | 7 | $101 | $101 | $26 | $26 | $26 | $26 |
| 17 | A PRINCE OF ARRAN | 20 | $21 | $51 | $34 | $13 | $15 | $17 |
| 18 | NAKEETA | 3 | $51 | $101 | $101 | $101 | $67 | $71 |
| 19 | SIR CHARLES ROAD | 14 | $51 | $201 | $101 | $101 | $101 | $101 |
| 20 | ZACADA | 24 | $101 | $301 | $201 | $201 | $201 | $151 |
| 21 | RUNAWAY | 12 | $51 | $201 | $34 | $34 | $34 | $34 |
| 22 | YOUNGSTAR | 8 | $51 | $51 | $17 | $17 | $17 | $16 |
| 23 | CROSS COUNTER | 19 | $21 | $21 | $10 | $10 | $11 | $9 |
| 24 | ROSTROPOVICH | 21 | $51 | $51 | $26 | $21 | $26 | $26 |
| 3) Magic Circle was as much as $41 in TAB’s ‘Pre Nominations’ market on May 25 | ||||||||
| 4) Chestnut Coat was as much as $151 in TAB’s ‘Pre Nominations’ market on May 14 | ||||||||