Luncies Heads 2024 Ipswich Cup Field, Betting & Weights

The Kris Lees-trained Luncies third-up and fit heads betting on the Ipswich Cup 2024 this weekend in Queensland.

Luncies is an early favourite in Ipswich Cup 2024 betting in Queensland this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Queensland Winter Racing Carnival moves a little west of Brisbane this weekend with the actioned headlined by another exciting edition of the Listed $250,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m).

The 14-horse Ipswich Cup 2024 field is headed by Lees’ 60kg top-weight Luncies who jumps from a favourable gate four draw with Ryan Maloney in the saddle.

The British-bred grey comes off back-to-back fifths this campaign with the seven-year-old last seen crossing 3.37 lengths off Just Folk in Eagle Farm’s Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (1800m) on June 1.

He looks set to peak now despite rising a further two kilos in the weights as he drops in grade.

Luncies has previous winning form over a mile and a half so should appreciate the Ipswich Cup distance at this point in his campaign as he chases his first win since the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) in June last year.

The danger occupying the second line of Ipswich Cup betting at $4.20 and firming is Annabel Neasham’s defending champion Regal Lion.

Regal Lion is out to be the first back-to-back Ipswich Cup winner since Our Lukas (2009-10) and looks in a prime position to win his first race since this event 12 months ago.

The now five-year-old son of Jakkalberry carried 54kg to his Ipswich Cup triumph last winter and is on just 53.5kg in 2024.

Two back he caught the eye when fourth to Spirit Ridge at Doomben in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m).

He was well-beaten at Eagle Farm last start when eighth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) but will relish a drop back in class and distance this weekend looking every shot at a successful title defence.

In an open top half of the markets a further three runners are also at single-figure Ipswich Cup odds including Chris Munce’s 53kg light weight Brookhaven ($8.50).

Samantha Collett has the ride on the in-form, QTIS qualified Spieth four-year-old who jumps from a midfield gate seven draw.

His latest on June 8 at Eagle Farm saw him under a length beaten with 54.5kg in a BM90 over 1810m.

This is a test now with his previous winning form only extending to a mile, but he is being kept safe in betting by the bookies.

The Robert Heathcote-trained Dune Forty Five ($9) to be ridden by Vlad Duric from barrier three and Neasham’s other runner King Frankel ($9.50) complete the hopes currently under $10 in betting.

The Ipswich Cup 2024 is set to run as Ipswich Race 7 at 3:17pm (AEST) with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2024 Ipswich Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	H Rating
1	x984024x55	LUNCIES (GB)	Kris Lees	Ryan Maloney	4	60kg		104
2	11x02940x0	ZOUMON	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Regan Bayliss	8	59.5kg		103
3	2466435×00	DESERT ICON (FR)	Chris Waller	Mark Du Plessis	10	58.5kg		101
4	0x0039x850	KING FRANKEL (IRE)	Annabel Neasham	Ms Cejay Graham (a)	5	57.5kg		99
5	21663×7536	DUNE FORTY FIVE	Robert Heathcote	Vlad Duric	3	54kg	55kg	92
6	x42x438218	WARP SPEED	Mark Goodwin	Michael Cahill	9	54kg		86
7	x7580986x0	PORT PHILIP (IRE)	Marcus Wilson	Jim Byrne	2	54kg		85
8	1x807x7079	CAPRICE DES DIEUX (FR)	Stephen Lee	Jake Bayliss	12	54kg		82
9	14612×0066	ENCODER	Lee Freedman	Damien Thornton	14	54kg		75
10	x099852248	REGAL LION (NZ)	Annabel Neasham	Robbie Dolan	11	53.5kg		91
11	56x26x8977	LONDON BANKER (NZ)	Kelly Schweida	Ron Stewart	6	53kg		90
12	13112×3037	NIKAU SPUR (NZ)	Corey & Kylie Geran	Karl Zechner	13	53kg		86
13	232×542340	RED WAVE	Tony & Maddysen Sears	Ms Angela Jones	1	53kg		83
14	814×017372	BROOKHAVEN	Chris Munce	Ms Samantha Collett	7	53kg		8