Melbourne Cup 2023 odds: Vauban firm favourite for Flemington glory
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Vauban is the 9/4 favourite in Coral’s Melbourne Cup 2023 odds following the final declarations for the ‘race that stops a nation’.
Willie Mullins-trained duo Vauban and Absurde (12/1) have fared well in the draw, being allotted stalls three and eight respectively.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Vauban has been backed from 10/1 down to 9/4 since his Royal Ascot victory and with Ryan Moore in the saddle and a decent draw from stall three, the Irish raider could well start shorter than his current odds.”
Vauban is a firm favourite after this season adding some impressive Flat form to his high-class hurdling exploits.
The five-year-old romped home by seven and a half lengths in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot before winning the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Naas.
Absurde was runner-up to his stablemate at Ascot and has since claimed victory in the Ebor at York.
Mullins finished second in Australia’s biggest race back in 2015 with Max Dynamite and believes he has the ammunition to go one better this time.
Ryan Moore is set to partner Vauban and Mullins said: “I think he’s as good as Max Dynamite and maybe better, we’ll find out that on Tuesday.
“It’s our strongest chance ever, it probably will be my strongest chance ever.
“We wouldn’t want to forget Absurde either, he did it very well with Frankie (Dettori) in the Ebor, Frankie gave him a terrific ride there.
“He has quarantined very well, and I think he’s in great shape.”
Zac Purton has been booked to ride Absurde and Mullins feels he has improved since clashing with Vauban at the Royal meeting.
“I think it’s going to be a different race and I think Absurde is going to be a different horse as well,” added the Irish trainer on racing.com.
“He’s learned to settle a good bit more and now that he’s got a nice draw, I think he’ll be able to put him where he wants him and that’ll make a huge difference.
“There was probably 20 lengths between them passing the winning post the first time around at Royal Ascot, there won’t be that here, I hope.”
Joseph O’Brien has already sent down two previous winners in Rekindling and Twilight Payment and relies on Okita Soushi (66/1) for the Melbourne Cup 2023.
He was also a Royal Ascot scorer in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes but struggled in the Caulfield Cup last time out and is an outsider here after being drawn out wide in stall 20.
Defending champion Gold Trip (9/2) will line up alongside Vauban in stall two, former William Haggas inmate Soulcombe (9/1) is in four and Caulfield Cup hero Without A Fight (5/1), previously trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, has drawn 16.
Melbourne Cup 2023 odds
9/4 Vauban
9/2 Gold Trip
5/1 Without a Fight
9/1 Soulcombe
12/1 Absurde
16/1 Breakup
20/1 Cleveland, Lastotchka, Future History
25/1 Vow and Declare
33/1 bar
Melbourne Cup trends: Key numbers from the last 20 years
All odds and market correct at date of publication
