Our racing writers Danny Russell and Peter Ryan pull apart the Melbourne Cup field in search of tipping the coveted trifecta.

Hey, Pete, part of my yearly bucket list is to nail the Melbourne Cup trifecta. Last year, Knight’s Choice blew a hole in that dream. This year, I am placing all my eggs in the Jamie Melham basket. How are you seeing it?

Hi Danny. I have landed one Cup trifecta in my life – Subzero, Veandercross and Castletown. Unfortunately, every other mug in the country picked that combination, too. This year, like 1992, promises to be a wet one and that will dictate my thinking at this stage. For that reason, I have Al Riffa on top with Presage Nocturne, Half Yours and Smokin’ Romans in my mix. But that remains weather dependent, to be honest, as Valiant King’s form stacks up. What’s your plan of attack?

Presage Nocturne gets a run on Sunday morning before the Cup.Credit: Getty Images

My plan of attack is to leave Al Riffa in the bin. He’s drawn so wide, he might have to swim across the Maribyrnong River before he even gets on the track. Plus he’s got to lug the top weight. History says no. I’m going for the all-female quinella – Melham on Half Yours and Celine Gaudray on Torranzino – and then tapping into the Caulfield........

© WA Today