Full analysis and tips for the 2024 Melbourne Cup

Group 1 racing heads to Sandown Park this Saturday for the 2024 edition of the Melbourne Cup.

Leading greyhounds form analyst Ethan Christian has taken a deep dive look into the feature for Star Sports.

1 - Joey The Jet

Trainer: Jason Thompson

The baby of the field, this will only be his third start at Sandown. What he lacks in experience he makes up for in raw ability, upside and a suitable box draw. He likes to race along the rails and will likely find himself near the speed as they turn into the back straight.

A big hope.

2 – Epitomize

Trainer: Bradley Greenough

Like Joey The Jet, Epitomize gives up considerable experience to his competitors in the final but boasts a near perfect race record and reliable early speed. I have him mapped as the leader and he is getting stronger with every run; he could be in this for a long way.

3 – Schillaci

Trainer: Jihad Talgi

The 2023 Phoenix winner is racing as well as ever, but the speed map is unkind, he might get troubled out of it early. The greyhounds drawn to his outside have considerable early speed and will want to cross to the rails.

4 – Sunset Frazier

Trainer: Jeff Britton

Showed considerable improvement last week to defeat one of the favourites for the series in Excavation in best-of-meeting time. A repeat of that would see him right in the finish, however he flew the lids last week and now moves from box 1 to box 4. He’s one I’ll be taking on.

5 – Miss Envy

Trainer: Krystal Shinners

Been nothing short of impressive since coming to Victoria for the Melbourne Cup, with two fast wins at Sandown. She’s drawn awkwardly and I’m not convinced she can lead, but she’s a tenacious chaser and one I’ll be keeping safe on ability alone.

6 – Explicit

Trainer: Jason Thompson

Arguably the best in the business. Undefeated at Sandown Park and can run some serious race times. Draw throws a spanner in the works, but he has the speed to overcome it – a strong chance of claiming another Group 1.

7 – Big Energy

Trainer: Jacqueline Greenough

The veteran of the field but might be the fastest of them all. Came from behind the leader in his heat win and his two previous wins at the track were in fast time. Drawn awkwardly as he will eventually want the rails but Explicit looks to bring him into the race. A clear run could see him pick up a deserved Group 1 victory.

8 - Buddy Monelli

Trainer: Lyn Smith

Used box 1 to advantage in heat win but was the slowest heat win by some way. Lyn has done a tremendous job to get him into back-to-back Melbourne Cup finals but he’s drawn inside out here and is unlikely to make much of an impact.

Selections

7-6-1-2

It’s a tricky affair and it won’t be the best betting race of the night, but I’m leaning the way of Big Energy who has been one of the fastest greyhounds in the land in the last three weeks. Explicit a close second selection with his early speed and ability to run time, while Joey The Jet and Epitomize can make use of a good speed map.

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