Aside from the meeting’s marquee race one of the other staying features on the Caulfield Cup Day program this weekend is the Coongy Cup 2016, betting tips and the latest odds for which are found below.

It’s Somewhat is the favourite and Races.com.au tip to win Saturday’s Coongy Cup 2016 on Caulfield Cup Day in his Melbourne debut. Photo: Steve Hart.

Due to run as Caulfield race 6 at 3:10pm (AEDT), this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Priceline Pharmacy Coongy Cup (2000m) originally drew a final field of 13 hopefuls.

Danny O’Brien’s De Little Engine has subsequently gained a start in the 2016 Caulfield Cup field, while the other scratching is the John O’Shea-trained Tarquin leaving 11 to fight it out in the handicap clash.

Heading the updated Coongy Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $2.60 and firming is the 59kg equal top weight It’s Somewhat ($3.30 into $2.60) who is the remaining hope for O’Shea and the Godolphin stable.

Getting the rails run from barrier one, Hugh Bowman rides the Dynaformer six-year-old who comes off a Randwick win a fortnight back carrying the same kilos from the same gate in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m).

So can It’s Somewhat complete a 2000m interstate double on the trot or is there value tipping a longer-priced hope in the Coongy Cup odds such as the Robert Smerdon-trained Maurus ($4.80) who ran second to Caulfield Cup fancy Real Love in the JRA Cup over the distance last start, the Chris Waller-trained Epsom Handicap graduate (9^th) Vanbrugh ($5.50) or the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained import Tom Melbourne ($8) with the outside alley as he looks to return to form?

1^st

#1 It’s Somewhat ($2.60)

He is short-priced and firming but the favourite, even giving away the weight, looks the one to beat in this. He won over the distance against similar class in Sydney last start, has had two weeks between runs and also ran third to glamour mare Winx the run before in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m). That’s hard form to knock and he’ll be competitive again in his first Melbourne assignment, so long as he handles this way of going. Bowman will help and from the inside alley will be putting himself in it to win it early.

2^nd

#2 The Cleaner ($11)

Is The Cleaner cooked? It’s a question that keeps coming up, the former Tasmanian-trained cult horse now with Peter Gelagotis. He’s a nine-year-old and is probably ready to retire, but he was under four lengths beaten in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) by Black Heart Bart last start, has winning form at this distance, ran mid-field in the Cox Plate last year and is chasing that one final Group win.

3^rd

#6 Tom Melbourne ($8)

There was so much Melbourne Cup-type hype around this import earlier in the year, but the lightly-raced Dylan Thomas six-year-old (11-5-1-0) hasn’t really lived up. He’s been inconsistent and hard to back, and was seven lengths beaten in the JRA Cup last start. Hoping he can finally show something here in an easier field.

Enjoy access to the weekend’s best markets and Caulfield Cup Day racing offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2016 Coongy Cup Odds Update