The bookies are taking no chances with the international raider in Wednesday’s 2019 Bendigo Cup field with the William Haggas-trained UK visitor Raheen House favourite to beat the local stayers.

Naturalism Stakes winner Brimham Rocks is looking to return to form in the Bendigo Cup this Wednesday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

As the countdown to the Melbourne Cup Carnival heats up, punters are in for a midweek treat with the latest edition of the Group 3 $400,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m).

The handicap clash features a 16-horse field with the latest Bendigo Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the widely-drawn Raheen House ($5) out in gate 14.

An $81 roughie hope for the Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5, Raheen House is second-up down under following his sixth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

Internationals have won two of the past three editions of the Bendigo Cup and there is money on Raheen House to be the next with an improved run.

Raheen House currently sits 30^th on the order of entry for next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race and needs to win this for a weight penalty to be assured of a start in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

It is a tight top-half of the Bendigo Cup betting market with a further four horses paying between $6.50 – $7.50 for the win.

Second elect at the $6.50 quote is the Chris Waller-trained Brimham Rocks looking to return to his earlier spring form that saw him win the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

He went to the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) as a lightweight following that and was four lengths beaten when ninth before his disappointing 14^th to the Japanese stayer Mer De Glace in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Brimham Rocks rises notably in weight from 52kg that run to 56.5kg on Wednesday but is right down in grade off the tough two Group 1 wins.

He, along with stablemate Patrick Erin, are also potentially on the Melbourne Cup 2019 path sitting 37^th and 28^th on the ballot respectively.

At an equal $7 are then the early Bendigo Cup market mover Angel Of Truth and Sully drawn in barriers three and five respectively.

Luke Currie rides the Gwenda Markwell-trained four-year-old Angel Of Truth who hasn’t won since his 3.3 length romp home in April’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) as a three-year-old in Sydney.

He has had four runs this spring finishing out of the money each time, the latest running 15^th in the Caulfield Cup as a roughie chance, but this looks a more winnable race.

Sully will have Brett Prebble in the saddle and comes off two good placings in Melbourne, the latest when powering home for third in the Herbert Power Stakes over this distance at Caulfield on Cup Day.

Rounding out the single-figure Bendigo Cup hopes at $7.50 is then Top Of The Range to be ridden by Perth’s premier hoop William Pike.

The Adelaide Cup runner-up over the two miles behind Surprise Baby is a genuine stayer who will appreciate getting back out over a mile and a half after the narrow second to Wolfe in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Coongy Cup (2000m) on October 16.

In a wide-open race other standout chances at longer odds include recent JRA Cup winner Captain Cook ($12), Herbert Power fifth placed Hang Man ($12) and the consistent Lindsay Park-trained seven-year-old Sin To Win ($13).

See below for the full Bendigo Cup 2019 field and barriers, the latest odds for the race available here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2019 Bendigo Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw