The countdown is on until the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley this afternoon and below we look at the race day market moves and big bets on the weight-for-age classic.

Moonee Valley Race 9 at 4:55pm (AEDT) marks the post-Winx era of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, the 2019 edition featuring a class 14-horse field.

Leading the Cox Plate odds at Ladbrokes.com.au and firming fast is the Japanese-trained Heart’s Cry mare Lys Gracieux ($3.60 into $3.10).

Jockey Damian Lane is fresh off the Caulfield Cup win aboard fellow Japanese raider Mer De Grace and is full of confidence his mount in the Cox Plate, Lys Gracieux, can get the job done.

She is certainly a star coming off a big WFA Group 1 success at home when a dominant three length victor in the Takarazhuka (2200m), but there are a few unknowns such as if the heavens open-up and she faces a soft track.

The huge Cox Plate market move has been on Magic Wand, the punters smashing the Irish raider from the stables of previous Cox Plate winning trainer Aidan O’Brien (Adelaide, 2004) in from $17 to $9.50.

First-up down under, this daughter of Galileo was impressive when second in the Irish Champion Stakes (2012m) at big odds.

That followed on from the Group 1 Arlington Million (2000m) in The States, this well-travelled mare has Ryan Moore aboard who rode O’Brien’s past Cox Plate champ to victory five years ago.

A gun at the distance, Magic Wand also looks like the type that will handle The Valley track so if she can shrug that bridesmaid status and show the will to win she’s the danger.

Outside of Lys Gracieux who holds the bulk of the Cox Plate bets at Ladbrokes.com.au the other best-supported to win is three-year-old Castelvecchio ($12 into $9).

Richard Litt’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner as a juvenile comes off the second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and is out to prove himself in open-age company.

This young gun is the sole three-year-old in the 2019 Cox Plate field and horses this age always present a danger at the lightweight.

The only problem for Castelvecchio will be if he’s not quick out of the gates, from that close-to-the-inside draw he risks getting caught too far back again like he was in the Golden Rose.

Meanwhile the big drifter that the punters are shying away from is Cape Of Good Hope ($8 out to $19).

Lindsay Park’s last start Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) winner won his Australian race debut fresh at blowout odds.

Formerly with Aidan O’Brien, the race maps well for another good run from the four-year-old Galileo entire but still think he looks a little off this class of rival.

See below for all the big moves in 2019 Cox Plate betting with full markets on the race available here thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2019 Cox Plate Betting Market Moves

Firming:

#1 Black Heart Bart – $41 into $31

#2 Avilius – $11 into $10

#4 Harlem – $101 into $51

#9 Lys Gracieux – $3.60 into $3.10

#10 Magic Wand – $17 into $9.50

#12 Mystic Journey – $8 into $7.50

#13 Verry Elleegant – $19 into $17

#14 Castelvecchio – $12 into $9

Drifting:

#3 Kluger – $15 out to $21

#5 Homesman – $16 out to $21

#8 Danceteria – $15 out to $26

#11 Cape Of Good Hope – $8 out to $19