The Caulfield Cup 2019 tips are starting to flood in as the countdown to the opening leg of the coveted Spring Cups double heats up and below we go over our top contenders in the $5 million classic.

Hartnell shapes up as a winning hope in the 2019 Caulfield Cup this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 $5 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) steals the show in Melbourne this Saturday running as Caulfield Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT).

It’s a bumper line-up of 18 confirmed starters plus four emergencies in this year’s Caulfield Cup 2019 field with the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au listing just five chances under $10 for the win.

Current favourite in the Caulfield Cup odds at $7 but on the drift (out from $5) is the Chris Waller-trained Finche coming off a lead-up second in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

The big, loping ex-European has been in strong form this prep tracking well towards the event as he did when fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup over the 3200m.

A dour stayer, Finche could be better-suited to the lengthy Flemington straight and thus struggle at Caulfield over the shorter run home.

The early Caulfield Cup betting market mover in from $11 to $7.50 is the Lindsay Park-trained Constantinople, an in-form Galileo entire debuting down under after a host of seconds back in the UK.

An unknown in the race, Constantinople has raced against some quality competition overseas and with Black Caviar’s old hoop Luke Nolen in the saddle, could be the one to hand co-trainer David Hayes his fourth Caulfield Cup.

The other best fancied are Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie ($8) part-owned by the great former horseman Peter Moody, the Japanese raider Mer De Glace ($8.50) who has won his past five races on the trot and the Danny O’Brien-trained Vow And Declare ($9) who ran a tough fourth first-up in the Turnbull Stakes.

To help punters sort the pretenders from the genuine Caulfield Cup contenders, read on four our insider tips on the 142^nd running of the iconic mile and a half showdown.

To Win: #14 Vow And Declare ($9)

Tough first-up performance when reeling off some exciting late sectionals to finish fourth in the Turnbull Stakes first-up. Hopefully that didn’t take too much out of this Declaration Of War four-year-old ahead of his Caulfield Cup test second-up. Comes down to just 52.5kg and has champion hoop Craig Williams in the saddle. Group 3 winner in Brisbane over 3000m during the autumn on the back of a Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) second so the distance is a non-issue.

Each Way: #16 The Chosen One ($16)

Barrier is nasty, drawn the far outside, but definitely not ruling out this talented Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained Kiwi. Won over the track / distance last Saturday in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes so is on the quick back-up but presents fit. Defeated Prince Of Arran by a half-length and sneaks in here on a light weight. Stephen Baster aboard and just needs luck in the run from the barrier.

Danger: #6 Finche ($7)

Deserving favourite based on what we’ve seen to date from this genuine and classy stayer who has been performing very well for champion trainer Waller. Won two back in Randwick’s Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) before the devastatingly close second to his stablemate Kings Will Dream in the Turnbull. Flemington suits this son of Frankel, who needs time to wind-up, so just some concerns about the Caulfield track especially with the non-favourable barrier.

Best Roughie: #1 Hartnell ($21)

What a great story it would be for Godolphin great Hartnell to return to winning form and take out the Caulfield Cup! This incredibly consistent Authorized nine-year-old simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race. His last nine starts have produced a top four run and the last time he went around at a quote like this, he won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (2018). Third in the Turnbull last time out and is rock-hard fit having been up since mid-August. Unbelievably, since his 2016 Melbourne Cup third, his only other run over further than 2000m was the 2017 Melbourne Cup flop (20^th). Been kept at the shorter distances since but really love him getting back up to the 2400m. And don’t worry about that 58kg, he’ll carry that plus more no worries.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Caulfield Cup 2019 tips make sure you lock in the best odds on the race now through Ladbrokes.com.au.