A line-up of potential Melbourne Cup horses take to Melbourne’s southwest Geelong track this afternoon in the all-important 2017 Geelong Cup, betting tips and updated odds on the spring showdown found below.

Michael Walker rides the Races.com.au team’s upset Geelong Cup 2017 tip to win Fanatic this afternoon. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.

Due to run as Geelong Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT), this season’s Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) features a dozen hopefuls with the Darren Weir-trained Gallic Chieftain dominating the markets.

The latest Geelong Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the progressive import at $2.90 to win for the first time since the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) over the distance at Rosehill back in early July.

The five-year-old entire gets a dream run today from barrier two with Craig Williams in the saddle and was eye-catching on October 14 finishing 1.4 lengths back third to Lord Fandango in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

It is a Soft (5) Geelong track for today’s major meeting and that brings into the mix a couple of longer-priced hopes in the Geelong Cup betting markets.

There are a further four under $10 for the win, which will earn them a shot to line-up in the Group 1 $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7.

The big Geelong Cup market mover is last year’s runner-up Grey Lion ($10 into $8.50) now prepared at Ballarat by Matt Cumani.

The Galileo stallion was third last time out in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) won by Folkswood who takes on Winx in Saturday’s Cox Plate field.

Grey Lion meanwhile is back up to a mile-and-a-half finally seeing conditions to suit, the grey boasting a 50% winning strike rate on Soft going.

So can Gallic Chieftain salute for the punters on way to the 2017 Melbourne Cup or is there an upset Geelong Cup result pending from the likes of the well-supported stablemate Kellstorm ($5) drawn the rails or comeback galloper Berisha ($9.50) coming off the good Cranbourne Cup second?

1^st:

#6 Fanatic ($26)

Think there’s terrific value to be had in this year’s Geelong Cup and taking on the favourite with this Lindsay Park-trained mare. She’s at a blowout price to score the upset, but the stable did it with Boom Time ($51) in the Caulfield Cup only a few days ago and the lead-up form of this five-year-old suggests she can too. A daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Fanatic was a fast-finishing sixth in the Herbert Power last time out only two lengths off her stablemate Boom Time (4^th) who franked the form last Saturday. This is a similar class and she is improving now she’s back to her pet distance.

2^nd

#4 Gallic Chieftain ($2.90)

Wouldn’t surprise if the well-supported favourite, who ticks plenty of boxes, just comes out and wins. His Herbert Power Stakes third was excellent and he’s got upside. Well-weighted in this and has won over 2400m in the Winter Cup back in July. His Soft track form (4-1-2-0) is also very good so conditions suit, as do the barrier and experience of C. Williams in the saddle.

3^rd

#2 Lizzie L’Amour ($16)

Another good value mare who is right in the mix for a placing in the Geelong Cup this afternoon. Stablemate of one-time Caulfield Cup favourite Bonneval, this five-year-old daughter of Zabeel is unplaced in her three Melbourne runs in the spring but can atone. She won a Group 1 over 2000m at home in March on a Soft track, but she’s had firm going all prep. Was 10^th in the Cranbourne Cup last time out and well-beaten, but she is four-from-five on Soft going so can surprise at a price.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Geelong Cup Day 2017 Tips make sure you’ve got access to the best spring racing odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au.