This Easter Saturday the racing action around the country is top class including the Sydney Cup 2014 at Royal Randwick, the Races.com.au team’s insider betting tips and selections for which are detailed below.

There are 17 top stayers set to face off in this year’s $1 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m), the two mile classic set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 3:45pm (AEST) tomorrow.

Sydney Cup betting markets are starting to really heat up, but still only three of the 17 in the field are under double figures to win.

Current favourite at $3.10 is the Gai Waterhouse-trained The Offer in gate eight with Tommy Berry in the saddle.

Berry has been aboard the Montjeu five-year-old for their two most recent runs, the duo successful in both with The Offer taking out the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) and then last weekend’s Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) by a combined six lengths.

Now they’ll look to make it three on the trot as they go up in class and distance for this out to achieve the Chairman’s Handicap – Sydney Cup double like seven other gallopers before them since 1986.

The other two top fancies for the Sydney Cup 2014 win are then New Zealand raider Who Shot Thebarman ($6) coming off a two mile win in the Auckland Cup from March 5 and the in-form Sertorius ($9) who ran fourth in last Saturday’s Chairman’s in brave effort.

So are these three single figure chances the ones to lock into your Sydney Cup trifecta bets?

Or is there value further down the Sydney Cup odds from the likes of Irish St Leger winner Voluese De Coeurs ($10), the Chris Waller-trained Brigantin ($11), market mover Tupac Amaru ($12) or even a galloper like the JohnThompson-trained Tremec ($17) who was runner-up in the Chairman’s Handicap?

1^st

#4 The Offer ($3.10)

It’s a big field and in the wet anything can happen, especially over the two miles, but really think the favourite is the one to beat and it’s hard to back against them here. They’re on the short seven day back-up but history shows the Chairman’s is the race to come via, and seven since 1986 have completed the double – most recently Jessicabeel (2010). They’re drawn ideally in gate eight which has produced the most Sydney Cup winners (eight) since 1983. Favourites also have a good record in the race – a 50% strike rate for the punters’ picks in the past decade. Their Win Rate (31%) is good and while this is their first look at the distance they’ve got a good Randwick record (4-1-0-2) and have the best wet track record with four wins and a second from their five Heavy track starts.

2^nd

#1 Voleuse de Coeurs ($10)

This proven two miler has had just three runs down under, starting with their Melbourne Cup 10^th last November. They were tipped to do better than that, especially after winning the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) by six lengths in September. They’ve had time to acclimatise now however and have been on the improve this season. Ran a first-up fifth in the Australian Cup at Flemington in March before making their Sydney debut with another fifth this time to Silent Achiever in The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 5 in the wet. Were a little disappointing there but think they’ll improve going up to the two miles here.

3^rd

#3 Who Shot Thebarman ($6)

Love what this Yamanin Vital five-year-old’s been doing back home in NZ winning six of their nine starts including their past two on the trot. Latest effort was a length win in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m), and while that was against easier company, an elite level in any country over the two miles bodes well for this. Only had to carry 52.5kg there however so must be at their best to cart 56kg in their Aussie debut but are ultra-consistent and handle Heavy going so a deserve their price in the market.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Sydney Cup tips make sure you get the guaranteed best prices by betting online at our number one recommended bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change