A host of 2017 Adelaide Cup nominated gallopers have a lead-up run at Morphettville Racecourse this Saturday in the Lord Reims Stakes, betting tips and odds for which are detailed below.

Nominations for the $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) held on Monday March 13 are now out and plenty of the hopefuls are in the mix for a start in the $120,000 Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on the weekend.

Leading the latest Lord Reims Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3 for the win is the always-honest Darren Weir-trained grey Master Of Arts.

The five-year-old stallion is also the market mover backed in from an earlier quote of $3.80 to post his first win since a 2600m success at Flemington in July last year.

He hasn’t been far away in good company across the summer – autumn season in Melbourne and has previous winning form at Morphettville back in April last year.

Master Of Arts is also being kept very safe in all-in Adelaide Cup odds at $11, the equal shortest priced of the nominees outside of the clear favourite Bondi Beach ($4).

At $3.20 for the win on Saturday after drawing one in the bumper field is the Danny O’Brien-trained Flemington stayer Second Bullet.

He won first-up at Caulfield over 1800m before a last start sixth in the Listed Victoria Cup (2000m), but is tipped to improve getting out over more metres in the Lord Reims Stakes.

His second-up run was better than it looked on paper, the Encosta De Lago six-year-old hitting the line well and he gets the chance to improve peaking fitness-wise.

Second Bullet currently pays $26 in futures Adelaide Cup odds, a price sure to firm if he can salute for the punters at Morphettville this weekend.

Occupying the third line of Lord Reims Stakes betting at $4.80 and paying $26 for the Adelaide Cup trophy is the flying Mail It In with Clare Lindop riding the local Reset four-year-old.

He has enjoyed a stellar lead-up with plenty of top two runs and comes off a Listed Birthday Cup (2020m) win at the Parks’ course by nearly three lengths.

So will the top three in betting battle it out in the Lord Reims Stakes trifecta this weekend?

1^st

#2 Mail It In ($4.80)

Sticking with the in-form local to hold off the interstate charge. This progressive four-year-old has enjoyed a gun lead-up including the 3.7 length black-type win at Morphettville Parks over 2040m a fortnight back. Steps up in distance, class and weights but the form is too good to ignore and think he can surprise for the Macdonald & Gluyas stable at a nice price.

2^nd

#1 Master Of Arts ($3)

Weir stable is on fire and there is plenty of money rolling in for this stallion who comes off a second last (8^th) behind Sydney Cup hope Northwest Passage over 2500m at Moonee Valley. Was only beaten just over three lengths that day and can improve closing hard late from the good gate.

3^rd

#7 Tunes ($16)

Big price offered for Grant Young’s Murray Bridge-trained eight-year-old. This son of Viscount is an evergreen veteran continuing to race very well including the last start 2250m win at the Parks only last Saturday. On a quick back-up and is yet to win over this distance, but genuine Adelaide stayer that is well-weighted, well-drawn and looks overs.

Back our exclusive Lord Reims Stakes 2017 tips online now and access the best all-in Adelaide Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).