Money has started to come for a number of the longer priced hopes to win tomorrow’s 2014 Melbourne Cup including early market mover Mutual Regard for former Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh.

The field for this year’s $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) is down one with 23 left in the mix following the scratching of Sea Moon due to an elevated temperature earlier today.

Of the stayers still on track for a shot at the world’s richest handicap when Flemington Race 7 jumps at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, the punters are coming for Murtagh’s raider Mutual Regard.

One of 11 internationals looking to steal the ‘Loving Trophy’ this year, the Hernando six-year-old opened at $13 but is now into $11 and nearing single figure odds in the latest Melbourne Cup betting markets.

Murtagh also saddles-up drifting $81 outsider Royal Diamond to be ridden by Steven Arnold from barrier six which hasn’t produced a Melbourne Cup winner in the past three decades.

One of the race’s most successful jockeys, Damien Oliver having won his third last year aboard Fiorente, meanwhile has the mount on Mutual Regard who comes off an Ebor Handicap (2800m) win at York on August 23.

2014 Melbourne Cup Market Movers

• #11 Mutual Regard ($13 into $11)
• #12 Who Shot Thebarman ($26 into $21)
• #24 Signoff ($8 into $7.50)

The only other notable firmer in the Melbourne Cup odds is then one of three for Sydney’s Chris Waller, Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman in from $26 to $21 to win Waller’s first ‘Loving Trophy’.

The New Zealand import won over this distance in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) back in NZ in March with a light weight and has won two races at Flemington with triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss, who stays on for Tuesday, earlier this spring including the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m).

He’s out to improve on a Caulfield Cup 13^th when beaten only four lengths and suffering from respiratory issues.

There has also been a tickle for the Darren Weir-trained Signoff in from $8 to $7.50 following his 11^th hour call-up into the field by winning Saturday’s Lexus Stakes at the track.

2014 Melbourne Cup Market Drifters

• #1 ire Rakti ($4.80 out to $5.50)
• #2 Cavalryman ($21 out to $26)
• #3 Fawkner ($8 out to $9)
• #4 Red Cadeaux ($17 out to $21)
• #5 Protectionist ($7 out to $7.50)
• #7 Seismos ($34 out to $71)
• #8 Junoob ($21 out to $26)
• #9 Royal Diamond ($51 out to $81)
• #10 Gatewood ($67 out to $71)
• #13 Willing Foe ($26 out to $31)
• #16 Brambles ($41 out to $51)
• #19 Lidari ($41 out to $71)
• #20 Opinion ($51 out to $67)
• #22 Lucia Valentina ($7 out to $7.50)

As for those horses on the drift, there are a few including the top fancy Japan’s ire Rakti out from $4.80 to $5.50 despite a nice barrier eight draw.

Hong Kong-based Aussie hoop Zac Purton has the ride on the last start Caulfield Cup winner who proved the best horse on the day then with the 58kg top weight on his back to win from out wide.

ire Rakti again carries the heaviest impost this week with 58.5kg, the Melbourne Cup form guide showing Think Big (1975) as the last winner with that much on his back.

Another single figure hope the punters are shying away from is the Robert Hickmott-trained Fawkner out from $8 to $9.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner comes off a brave Cox Plate second as he looks to improve on a sixth in the world’s richest handicap last year.

The Reset seven-year-old is also the last chance for owner Lloyd Williams to win his fifth Melbourne Cup after stable mate Green Moon was ruled out pre-field announcement and Sea Moon came out this morning.

The biggest drifter in the markets meanwhile is Seismos for Marco Botti, the ATB-owned galloper drawn on the rails but out from $34 to $71 after a disappointing 15^th in his Australian debut in the Caulfield Cup.

See below for the full Melbourne Cup odds 2014, prices open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au where picking Melbourne Cup 1^st – 7^th will win you $10,000,000 on Tuesday with the Megafecta promo!

2014 Melbourne Cup Odds