‘He has a massive chance’

TEMPLEGATE has set his alarm clock and will be ready to roll at 4am on Tuesday for the awesome Melbourne Cup.

The ‘race that stops a nation’ always throws up drama – and one or two European winners as well.

There is a strong British contingent at Flemington this year and the action will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing.

Here, Templegate goes through every single runner before revealing his tip and 1-2-3-4 prediction below.

And don’t forget to check out who Matt Chapman will be backing for the big one.

Good luck, mate!

Templegate’s Melbourne Cup runner-by-runner guide

AL RIFFA
Top Irish stayer with serious class who has landed two G1 wins on the spin. Big weight to lump though. If the rain hits it could be a tough slog for him.

BUCKAROO
Hard to fault this genuine top-level horse who was beaten in a photo for the Cox plate. From top trainer and jockey team but has a big weight.

ARAPAHO
Tough old boy who stays forever but the legs aren’t getting any younger. Sydney Cup win shows his quality, yet this looks a bridge too far on current form.

VAUBAN
Been here twice before without firing and hasn’t shown a lot lately. Despite that, he’s a classy stayer, soft ground suits nicely and he’s well drawn. Looks a bit overpriced.

CHEVALIER ROSE
Japanese horses rarely come here unless they fancy their chances. Proven stayer but his best form has come in quicker ground.

PRESAGE NOCTURNE
French raider who caught the eye at Caulfield, finishing like a train. Loves soft ground, drawn well, and has the engine for two miles. Massive player here.

MIDDLE EARTH
Good stayer with the right profile but hasn’t really fired this season. Needs a lot more to figure in this company.

MEYDAAN
Never got the smoothest run in the Caulfield Cup but kept finding and this longer trip looks bang on. Best local jockey James McDonald is booked and he’ll be out of trouble from a wide draw. Can go close at a big price.

ABSURDE
Honest Irish stayer who knows this race well. Decent Caulfield Cup run, goes fine on soft ground and Kerrin McEvoy’s up. Has had a good local prep run and can make the frame.

FLATTEN THE CURVE
Tough German who stays like a train and loves soft going. Form rock-solid back home. First run down under but could be underestimated by the bookies for place purposes.

LAND LEGEND
Form’s gone downhill lately but Waller and Moreira always deserve respect. Needs a turnaround of some size and, on recent showings, that’s not very likely.

SMOKIN’ ROMANS
Old campaigner who’s been a star in his day looks past his best now. Handles soft but current form says this is a step too far.

CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD
Has been badly out of form and has reportedly had some training issues. One to swerve.

HALF YOURS
Caulfield Cup winner and looks the right favourite. Has a handy weight and a good draw. Yet to try the trip but everything about him screams class. Huge winning chance if lasting home.

MORE FELONS
Has been running no more than OK in his prep runs and needs a major step forward to figure.

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
Flying since his Moonee Valley Cup win and looks a horse peaking at the right time. Light weight and nice draw but he’s not performed on soft ground before.

FURTHUR
Andrew Balding is not without a chance with this three-year-old who was second at Royal Ascot. Looks the type to enjoy this challenge.

PARCHMENT PARTY
American raider swaps dirt for turf. Top connections but he’s unlikely to enjoy himself on the predicted tacky ground.

ATHABASCAN
Honest type who’ll give you an effort but just lacks the class for this. Inside draw handy but needs the run of his life to trouble the contenders.

GOODIE TWO SHOES
Joseph O’Brien runner who stays all day and handles a bit of cut. Could make the pace for Al Riffa and is likely to tire a long way from home.

RIVER OF STARS
Huge run for second in the Caulfield Cup and loves some cut in the ground. Proper stayer with a nice weight, middle draw perfect. Definite player.

ROYAL SUPREMACY
Strong Caulfield Cup fifth shows he’s no mug. Handles soft ground well and stays all day. Place shout if things fall right.

TORRANZINO
Geelong Cup winner in good form, though that wasn’t the deepest field. Stays well enough, but this is another level.

VALIANT KING
Ex-Joseph O’Brien runner has been going well for Chris Waller including an impressive Bart Cummings success. Blinkers have sharpened him right up. Lightly weighted, well drawn, handles the wet so will be right there.

Templegate’s Melbourne Cup tip and 1-2-3-4 prediction

MEYDAAN can bring the Melbourne Cup back to Britain for Simon and Ed Crisford.

His Caulfield Cup run last time out was full of promise. He was caught wide early and denied any cover for much of the way, yet still kept finding through the line when others wilted.

The step up to two miles around Flemington, with its longer straight, should be right up his street.

Kiwi legend James McDonald takes over in the saddle and when the best jockey down under drops to 8st 7lb, the horse must have a massive chance.

The only slight worry is his stall 22 draw so J-Mac will need to be at his very best.

He’s handled soft ground back home, stays strongly and has the class to strike gold for the father and son training team.

The chief danger could well be Valiant King, who spent his early career with Joseph O’Brien but is on the upgrade for Aussie handler Chris Waller.

Blinkers have transformed him this season.

He bolted up in the red-hot Bart Cummings and then chased home the best of them in the Caulfield Cup.

He’s drawn ideally, carries a handy weight, and has Jye McNeil on board, who knows how to win this race from the front.

Everything points to another bold showing.

The classy French raider Presage Nocturne also commands respect.

He stormed home into fourth in the Caulfield Cup despite the stop-start tempo and should relish this longer trip.

A strong traveller with proven form on soft ground, he looks well placed to give the northern hemisphere another Cup strike.

The way Willie Mullins hoovers up big prizes for fun you can’t rule out his Absurde.

It’s asking a lot for an eight-year-old to win and he’s been seventh and fifth in the race before.

This year Mullins has given him a prep in the Caulfield Cup and that may just help with Kerrin McEvoy an excellent jockey booking.

It wouldn’t be a shock if he made the frame.

Al Riffa brings the best form in the book after his Irish St Leger win for Joseph O’Brien.

But lumping top weight in what could be pretty soft conditions is a mighty ask.

Of the locals, Half Yours deserves plenty of respect after his Caulfield Cup success.

Lightly raced, progressive and drawn well, he’s got the right profile for this, though he’s untested over this trip. If he stays, he’s right in it.

1st Meydaan
2nd Valiant King
3 Half Yours
4 Absurde

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