Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking faces an uphill battle to repeat his success this year after drawing the extreme outside barrier in the 24-horse field, according to Betstar's supremo Alan Eskander. He told PPD: 'Punters have dropped off Mark Kavanagh's stayer with their focus firmly on So You Think and the emerging Lexus winner Maluckyday...I know Shocking sat three wide and won the Cup last year but with six kilos more and against one of the best fields I can recall it's going to take

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking faces an uphill battle to repeat his success this year after drawing the extreme outside barrier in the 24-horse field, according to Betstar's supremo Alan Eskander. He told PPD: 'Punters have dropped off Mark Kavanagh's stayer with their focus firmly on So You Think and the emerging Lexus winner Maluckyday...I know Shocking sat three wide and won the Cup last year but with six kilos more and against one of the best fields I can recall it's going to take all of Michael Rodd's skill to get Shocking home from barrier 24...He's been $4.60 out to $8 with us which is an amazing turnaround for a horse whose lead-up form into the race has been terrific and he certainly wasn't disgraced in the Mackinnon.'

What about the punters' push for So You Think? Alan Eskander says: 'It's been huge...The initial doubts about his ability to get the trip have been wiped after Saturday's strong run in that wet going. Punters think Steven Arnold just has to put the horse to sleep from his lovely draw and his sprint will be too good for his opposition. He's been $5.50 into $3.50 and even at that price we've already had bets of $10,000 and $3,000 so he could get even shorter.'

And the other big firmer, Maluckyday? Alan Eskander says: 'He was $67 into $10 with us after Saturday's win and it wouldn't surprise if he ended up second pick. The Hawkes team doesn't normally get carried away but they seemed very bullish after that run and he looks to have got under the handicapper's guard. He seems to have caught most people by surprise although we did take two bets late last week, one of $300 and another of $200 at $81 so someone has fancied him.' Eskander says Linton, Holberg and Once Were Wild have all tightened while the surprise drifter was Shoot Out who has been $17 out to $34 despite another solid effort in the Mackinnon. Eskander says: 'He hasn't really done much wrong in his lead-up races and he seems to be racing like a real "two miler" but I guess the punters must be wondering how he is going to turn the tables on So You Think who has just been so dominant in his races. In fact, I think we're all asking the same question.'

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