A full field of autumn gallopers take to the Caulfield track this Saturday for the 2017 Easter Cup, betting tips and the latest odds on the handicap showdown found below.

The capacity 16 runners will face off in this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) when Caulfield Race 9 jumps at 4:45pm (AEST) on Easter Saturday in Melbourne.

Heading the current Easter Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au at $4.20 is the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Tom Melbourne, out to atone for a last start 10^th to Humidor in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).

Saturday’s race is an easier assignment over the same distance and the Dylan Thomas six-year-old has enjoyed a recent Cranbourne trial win by five lengths over 1550m suggesting he is ready to bounce back.

The bookies are also taking no chances with the Danny O’Brien-trained Second Bullet ($5.50) dropping back in distance, before the first emergency War Legend ($8) sweating on a scratching to make the field and the Canberra Cup champ Dark Eyes ($9.50) round out the single-figure hopes.

The early market mover in Easter Cup odds meanwhile backed in from $15 to $12 is Matt Cumani’s returning Melbourne Cup runner Grey Lion who is best known for his Geelong Cup second Qewy last October.

So will Tom Melbourne overcome the outside alley and salute for the punters or is there an upset Easter Cup result pending from the likes of the John Sadler-trained Bendigo Golden Mile winner Observational ($17) or even the reigning champ Leebaz ($34)?

1^st

#4 Grey Lion ($12)

Early money is coming for this Cumani import who races for the first time since the unplaced Melbourne Cup run in the spring. Happy to follow the money trail and take the nice price on offer for the Galileo stallion whose Geelong Cup second on debut down under showed off his potential. He runs well fresh (5-3-0-0) and is first-up here over a distance he’s got winning form over. Caulfield track should suit, has time to overcome the wide barrier and is fairly weighted.

2^nd

#15 Zasorceress ($12)

On the 54kg minimum is this smart Weir-trained mare who ticks enough boxes to suggest she’ll run a place at nice odds. Was runner-up over the Flemington mile narrowly beaten two back before a second at Rosehill over the 2000m behind Assign. Will be better on firmer going and is fit enough to surprise.

3^rd

#12 Second Bullet ($5.50)

Back-to-back sixth place efforts leading into the race from O’Brien’s Encosta De Lago gelding, the latest over 2600m at Morphettville. He loves Caulfield and will enjoy returning (9-2-2-1) out to improve on the close Victoria Cup sixth when under three lengths beaten at this track and distance on Blue Diamond Day. Plenty of 2000m form (15-5-2-4), has trialled in the interim nicely and will fly with 54kg on his back.

Back our exclusive Easter Cup 2017 betting tips for Saturday at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au now.