Dan O’Sullivan’s in-form Ballarat galloper Tuscan Fire has opened narrow favourite to win Monday’s Adelaide Cup 2013 at Morphettville, the veteran of 42 starts having only recently found their best form.

Tuscan Fire is early favourite to win the 2013 Adelaide Cup on Monday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

A bumper 20-horse field of stayers is engaged for this year’s edition of the $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m), set to run as Morphettville Race 7 at 4:02pm (local time) on Monday.

Of the acceptors it is Tuscanos six-year-old Tuscan Fire heading the Adelaide Cup betting markets at a current quote of $4.80 despite their awkward barrier 16 draw.

They may be wide but with the Adelaide Cup one of the few remaining races held over the two miles they, and jockey Glen Boss, have the time to overcome the gate.

Tuscan Fire has been in flying form this time in winning back-to-back Flemington races in January.

They then improved on a Mornington Cup Prelude second to take out the Listed grand final over the mile and a half by an easy three lengths and was last seen finishing a brave third behind Kutchinsky in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) on March 2 back at Flemington.

The former hurdler also has form over the two miles in the jumps races indicating the distance won’t be an issue.

There are three other runners in the Adelaide Cup field under double-figures in the latest markets with:

• #7 Kutchinsky ($6) – Anabaa six-year-old won the Roy Higgins last start when ridden by Craig Williams on 54kg, go up 1kg having been penalized for that win with Williams staying on, top chance from nice barrier nine draw
• #5 You Think So ($7.50) – Michael Kent-trained Golan gelding another last start stakes winner in Melbourne having taken out a 2500m feature by an easy three lengths, won two 3000m features at Moonee Valley during the summer so the two miles in Adelaide should suit to a tee, needing luck from barrier 18 however
• #6 Macedonian ($8.50) – Veteran Zabeel seven-year-old from the Melbourne stables of Peter Moody, has been thereabouts this prep with an Australia Day Cup fourth and a third in the Mornington Cup behind Monday’s favourite, can improve on that having run third in this race back in 2011 behind Muir and fifth in that year’s Sydney Cup in the mud too

Other longer-priced hopefuls with genuine claims of an scoring an upset Adelaide Cup result then include Pat Carey’s Danehill Dancer mare Dame Claire ($12) who was second in the Roy Higgins, last start Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes winner My Ex Mate ($12), Lord Reims runner-up Talent Show ($13) and Waratone ($16).

See below for latest Adelaide Cup odds, prices courtesy of our No. 1 recommended bookie bookmaker.com.au who have all your Adelaide Cup betting needs covered this week including their exclusive Pick Your Own Odds markets.

2013 Adelaide Cup Odds

Morphettville Race 7 – 4:32pm (local) – 11/03/2013

*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change