A field of 14 face off in the last on Stradbroke Handicap Day in the 2017 Brisbane Cup, betting tips and the latest odds on the handicap clash found below.

Running as Doomben Race 9 at 4:20pm (AEST) on Saturday afternoon, this season’s $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) is run over 200m shorter than is tradition due to the change of locations.

That will work against some of the more dour stayers in the mix and opens up the Brisbane Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au somewhat.

Currently heading the Brisbane Cup odds online at $4.80 and firming is the now Darren Weir-trained WA expat Neverland ($4.80), the mare getting in on a 53kg light weight.

Her lead-up produced a close fifth when only 1.3 lengths beaten at Eagle Farm in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) with a kilo more on her back.

She’ll be fitter here after a subsequent Sunshine Coast trial, and while it has been sometime between wins, she has class as a dual Group 2 Perth Cup runner-up.

The other best in Brisbane Cup betting this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival include Group 1 winner Single Gaze ($6.50) on a short seven day turnaround after the Group 2 win here over the track and distance last weekend and the Sydney visitor Top Of My List ($6) chasing three straight wins.

So do the favourites have it in the bag or is there an upset Brisbane Cup result pending from the likes of the upset Premier’s Cup winner Kaiser Franz ($26) or the defending champ Benzini ($8) who won over 2400m at Eagle Farm last year?

1^st

#2 Rudy ($11)

Going the upset with this Helen Page-trained six-year-old who has been racing career best this time in. Two back was third only 1.5 lengths beaten here in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) as a $26 roughie. Went one better returning to the track last Saturday the same distance off the winner Single Gaze in the Group 2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m). Down from 59kg to 58.5kg here and gets the weight turnaround on the mare. Drawn wide but distance to overcome. Is fit and looks over the odds.

2^nd

#3 Benzini ($8)

Kiwi stayer won this race 12 months ago, but over 2400m at Eagle Farm. Was in top form back home earlier in the year racing well before a first-up fourth in the Premier’s Cup, which could be the form race to follow into this. Back from 59kg to 58kg and drawn a treat (4). Seven-year-old but evergreen, placed at the track and comes into this fit second-up (9-1-4-1).

3^rd

#5 Neverland ($4.80)

It’s been a long time since this former Perth-trained mare was first past the post, but she’s been competitive in plenty. Dual Perth Cup runner-up in the latest two editions of that 2400m summer feature and caught the eye in the close fifth in the Premier’s Cup last time out. Well-weighted, getting fitter each run and jumps favourite. A little short for the win, but she’ll get a good run from the gate and be in the money.

Back our Brisbane Cup 2017 betting selections online now through Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the weekend’s best racing odds and offers.