The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained interstate raider Dee I Cee is the early favourite in pre-field Hobart Cup 2018 betting ahead of the summer staying showdown on Sunday.

Dee I Cee is early favourite in pre-field Hobart Cup 2018 betting for Tasmania on Sunday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Tas Racing received 14 early entries for this season’s Group 3 $250,000 Hobart Cup (2400m) and futures markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are tipping six-year-old Dee I Cee as the one to beat.

Chasing his first win since the Listed Premier Cup (1900m) at Rosehill in August last year and his first victory over further than 2040m, the Istidaad gelding sits at a current quote of $4.40 in all-in Hobart Cup odds.

His lead-up run on January 26 at Warwick Farm was good when narrowly beaten in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m), Dee I Cee crossing a short half-head second to the winner Cordero.

He will however need to improve going up from 55.5kg that run to the hefty 59kg top kilos in the Hobart Cup weights on Friday.

The Darren Weir-trained stablemates Andrea Mantegna and Night’s Watch follow in the markets post-nomination stage at an equal $6.

Ace Victorian trainer Darren Weir chases his firth Hobart Cup success and was narrowly denied a victory last year when Big Duke ran a close second behind the local Scott Brunton-trained Count Da Vinci.

Weir has confirmed both his 2018 Hobart Cup nominees will line-up on Sunday and the bookies are taking no chances with the two last start winners.

American-bred import Andrea Mantegna is a five-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway who saluted by a runaway five lengths on January 27 in a Benchmark 82 over 2250m at Morphettville Parks.

The entire carted 58kg as the odds-on favourite there, has winning form over the mile and a half overseas before his transfer to Australia and looks extremely well-weighted for the Hobart Cup on the 54kg minimum.

Night’s Watch is allocated 56kg and is also looking for back-to-back wins after the Redwood four-year-old took out a 2000m Caulfield race narrowly on January 27.

Last year’s winning trainer Brunton has the ultra-consistent Earl Da Vinci on track for the race this summer.

A six-year-old Road To Rock gelding, Earl Da Vinci has finished top three in his latest six starts including the lead-up second over 2100m from New Year’s Eve at Launceston carrying 59kg.

There are also big claims being made by the Adelaide training duo of Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas who are confident their mare Pretty Punk can atone for her last start fourth to Night’s Watch in Melbourne.

The four-year-old daughter of Rebel Raider won her two earlier runs and is the $7 third favourite in the early Hobart Cup betting markets for the rematch where Craig Williams will come aboard.

Other standout entries include Barry Campbell’s Brighton Cup winner Eastender, Brilliant Jet who saluted in the Devonport Cup and last start Summer Cup champ at the track Fastnet Dragon.

Check out the latest Hobart Cup 2018 odds below, prices to be updated at Ladbrokes.com.au following final acceptances on Wednesday.