Sport is made for betting

We're back again for the greatest race on turf, the world's richest staying race and the only race in the world which creates a public holiday for millions of locals. Once again a fine international field has been assembled and it's worth a deep look at the race. So get a cuppa and find a comfortable seat to plough your way through my preview! -------------------------------- The Lexus Melbourne Cup Group 1, Handicap, 3200m AUD 7,750,000 Flemington 1500 local, 0400 GMT Broadcasters - Network 10 (AUS), Racing.com (worldwide), SkySportsRacing (UK) 1. Cross Counter Trainer - Charlie Appleby (one previous Cup win) Jockey - William Buick Breeding - Teofilo - Waitress Drawn 5, Weight 57.5kg Last year's impressive winner who doesn't get the 3yo weight advantage this time. Won first up at Meydan in March but has run fourth, third, fourth in the big set weights staying races in England and Ireland, never quite making it as the next big staying star. W

Cometh the rain and early darkness, cometh the jumps season. The National Hunt caper in the UK & Ireland is more devoutly followed than the Flat (yeah, baffling to me too), emphasised by the fact all the other interest to provide previews this week was for jumps features. So it's welcome aboard to newest blog contributor, Jonny Gatenby, @JonnyG88 , a talented young writer with a passion for National Hunt racing.  ============== The Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Grade 2, £100,000. Three miles 45yds. 3.40 Wetherby GMT. The race was originally established in 1969 and has been called the Charlie Hall since 1978. It is the first graded three-mile chase in the UK of the season and was seen for many years as the start of the season ‘proper’. This is probably not the case anymore with big meetings at Chepstow and Cheltenham preceding this one but one thing that does remain is the fact that the Charlie Hall is the first Cheltenham Gold Cup trial of the year. Seven horses have b