online betting for the Melbourne Cup: latest UK odds

UK online betting agencies release Melbourne Cup odds. Changingoftheguard is now the early favourite.

William Hill, Paddy Power, Stan James and Blue Square are now offering the latest odds on this year's Melbourne Cup, all bookmakers go 12/1 the field for Australia's biggest race. Changingoftheguard has been backed into 12/1 favourite with William Hill in the last couple of hours after a close second in the Ebor Handicap at York.

Aiden O'Brien trained Changingoftheguard was just pipped by the 25/1 outsider, Sesenta.

Sportinglife.com report that O'Brien was unsure about the forthcoming plans. "He ran a great race, we will see where we go now, he'll have plenty of options. He is a young horse and it was a great experience for him," said O'Brien.

Ladbrokes responded by cutting the price of Changingoftheguard to 6/1 for the St Leger, the last remaining uk classic race of 2009.