The opening leg of the coveted Spring Cups double takes place in Melbourne this weekend, and below are our insider Caulfield Cup 2022 tips and best bets on the $5 million feature.

No Compromise looks potential value for a place in the 2022 Caulfield Cup results on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Naturalism Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double winner Smokin’ Romans down in the weights is the red-hot favourite in a capacity field for Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained six-year-old dominates Caulfield Cup betting at $4 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au after a favourable barrier five draw for him and jockey Jamie Kah in the classic.

The Turnbull form has been the one to follow into the spring majors over the years including both Verry Elleegant (2020) and Incentivise (2021) doing the double Smokin’ Romans is tipped to complete this year.

There’s a current Heavy (10) Caulfield track and more rain falling across today making this a Caulfield Cup for the mudlarks.

The autumn’s ATC Derby runner-up Benaud ($9.50) in the outside alley, Sydney Cup winner Knights Order ($10) from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, the in-form James Cummings-trained Alegron ($11) and the consistent Annabel Neasham-trained Numerian ($12) are considered among the main dangers.

So, will Smokin’ Romans relish the wet and his light weight and salute for the punters?

Or is there an upset Caulfield Cup result pending?

The Favourite: #17 Smokin’ Romans ($4 at time of publish) – BET NOW

No denying Smokin’ Romans has been the surprise horse of the spring so far and is deserving favourite for Saturday going up to a mile and a half fifth-up and rock hard fit. Gets a gun run from barrier five and Kah is in terrific form. Even with a 1.5kg penalty he carries just 51.5kg and will be flying with that weight coming back from the 55.5kg he carried to a 1.5 length win in the Turnbull in an upset. Has won up to 2500m previously so the distance is a non-issue and he’s proven in the wet. Obviously, this is another level, but he’s racing in career best form and brings the best form lines into the race. He’ll be on speed again from the draw and looking to earn championship status. EACH WAY.

The Danger: #3 Knights Order ($10 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Money continues to come for proven stayer Knights Order with a wet track and further rainfall on Friday boosting the chances of this veteran eight-year-old. The Irish-bred son of So You Think has amassed over $2 million in stakes over his 29 career starts and excellent on Heavy going. He was second at Randwick by the barest of margins in the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap on a Heavy (9) over 2600m before backing up just seven days later for a two-length romp home on a bottomless track in the Sydney Cup over two miles back in April. First-up winner carrying 59kg in the Group 2 Chelmsford on another Heavy (10) at Randwick before a third behind major Caulfield Cup players Alegron and Benaud in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m). Fourth in the Turnbull saw him only 1.7 lengths beaten as a 25/1 outsider in betting and finishing strongly. CAN WIN.

The Roughie: #8 No Compromise ($20 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Plenty of double-figure fancies with genuine claims including Waller’s Group 1 The Metropolitan winner over the distance in Sydney last time out. The Pins six-year-old has been around wet tracks plenty (13:3-3-4) and looks in solid form this campaign. Third fresh in the Chelmsford behind Knights Order, sixth in the Kingston Town and then won the Group 1 narrowly with 53.5kg. Goes around on the same weight here in Melbourne and looks overs as a strong and consistent stayer. PLACE.

The Caulfield Cup 2022 is scheduled as Caulfield Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT).

Click here for the latest Caulfield Cup betting odds thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

*All Caulfield Cup 2022 odds are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change