Melbourne Cup Trifecta Tips 2026

Arguably the most popular exotic bet type on Melbourne Cup Day, everyone and their mum has a story about trying to land the Trifecta on the first Tuesday of November.

Simple enough in theory, a little harder in practice, a Trifecta requires punters to correctly pick the first three horses past the post.

Ok, so there’s a little more to it than that, but that’s why we created our What is a Trifecta Punter IQ guide.

You can also check out every single previous Melbourne Cup Trifecta here, to get a better idea of what kind of horses are top three material.

For the best possible insight, however, check out our expert Melbourne Cup Trifecta tips below and get ready for the race that stops the nation!

Melbourne Cup Trifecta Tips 2026 

Melbourne Cup Straight Trifecta Tip 

1. Point Of Law

2. Trustyourinstinct

3. Shockletz

Melbourne Cup Boxed Trifecta Tip 

Point Of Law

Trustyourinstinct

Shockletz

James J Braddock

Middle Earth

Point Of Law (No.20, Barrier 9, 53kg)

Point Of Law produced one of the most commanding Cup lead-ups in some time when he ran his rivals into the ground from outside the leader in the Geelong Cup.

The handicapper took notice. A 2kg penalty lifts him from the 51kg minimum to 53kg, which still looks a very handy weight for the horse at the head of the market.

Can a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old run out a strong 3200m? His form suggests he can.

He ran on well in the Group 2 Queen's Vase (2816m) at Royal Ascot before winning the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy (2615m) at Newmarket in July.

Ethan Brown rides from barrier 9, one of the best gates in the field for a horse who likes to race on the speed.

Trustyourinstinct (No.2, Barrier 18, 57kg)

Trustyourinstinct is trained by Joseph O'Brien, the man behind Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020).

He's a genuine stayer who beat Al Riffa in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m), then ran a sound fourth in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m). 

What separates him from plenty of plodding two-milers is a slick turn of foot. He's at his best when held up for one late sprint.

Local champ James McDonald, who won the 2021 Cup on Verry Elleegant, takes the ride. Barrier 18 means he'll likely need to settle back, but that suits the way he races.

Shockletz (No.24, Barrier 17, 51kg)

If you could back a horse on family history alone, Shockletz would be the Cup favourite.

She's a daughter of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, and she runs in the same Eales Racing colours, black with an orange checked sash. 

She earned her spot by winning the Group 3 Archer Stakes at Flemington, the same race her father won on the way to his Cup, and she'll carry the same 51kg he did.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has given her an ideal preparation, and her two runs since the Archer were lovely Cup trials.

The rider is the worry. Harry Coffey hurt his shoulder in a fall at Flemington on Saturday and is in doubt, with Michael Dee the likely replacement.

James J Braddock (No.18, Barrier 24, 53.5kg)

James J Braddock ran a gallant third in the Group 1 Epsom Derby (2414m) on very heavy ground in June.

He struggled in the Irish Derby next time and was gelded with the Melbourne Cup in mind. 

His comeback run was solid, a sixth in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown, beaten only 1.5 lengths by Sons And Lovers, who he meets on similar weight terms here.

As a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old, he gets in nicely with just 53.5kg. Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams has been booked for a long time.

The query? Barrier 24 is the widest gate in the field, so Williams will need luck in the run from out there.

Middle Earth (No.4, Barrier 1, 56.5kg)

Middle Earth ran third behind Half Yours in last year's Melbourne Cup, and Maher has followed almost the same path to get him back.

He's been through the Underwood, Turnbull and Caulfield Cup again, then backed up on Cox Plate Day, where he picked off a few runners late. 

His five runs this campaign have been unplaced, but they've been about building fitness for Tuesday, just like last year.

He draws the inside gate and gets Mark Zahra, who won the Cup in back-to-back years on Gold Trip (2022) and Without A Fight (2023). He's the one in our five who looks the most overlooked.