Luke Murrell is a regular Spring contributor to our site and he is struggling to contain his excitement this week.

Not just because the Melbourne Cup is only days away, but because he is a part-owner of Protectionist who is second favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

Luke joins us on the podcast to explain why he believes Protectionist is a second-to-none chance of winning our biggest race. He also lines up the form of all of the imported runners as well as the two strongest local hopes.

Punting Insights You'll Find:

Why he doesn't think Admire Rakti deserves to be favourite

Why he believes Protectionist is the ideal horse to win the race

How almost half the field have next to no chance

Today’s Guest:

Luke Murrell

Get the Transcript:

David Duffield: It’s a pretty exciting time of year but especially this year for you, with Protectionist.

Luke Murrell: Yeah, really excited about it. Counting off the sleeps now like a kid at Christmas. It's all going well.

David Duffield: How is it going? I know that Victoria's chief vet paid you a visit.

Luke Murrell: Yeah, he was one of 3 or 4 that got an extra visit the other day, and he passed in; no problems. I actually had a chat with the trainer this morning. He hasn't seen him for a couple of days, and he was thrilled with how he'd tightened up. He went into that Herbert Power probably I think, by trainers had admission probably a little bit underdone, but that was to be expected.

He's certainly thrived being out here. There was rumor that he was been sore but we are in nearly hourly contract with connections down there, and there's never been an issue. I think it's clearly the opposition trying to put a few doubts and get some of the better chances out of the race. It's happened before.

David Duffield: The Herbert Power run that you mentioned, how exciting was that for him to finish so strongly, because like you said, he wasn't fully wound up for it?

Luke Murrell: It was funny actually. Andreas the trainer, he's one of the best in the world, he was actually quite disappointed with the run. Not in the horse itself, but probably just how the race turned out. You could just tell after the race, that won't be happening again. He'll be cherry ripe on the day. Yeah, that's what he reported this morning.

The horse even to the eye, he did have a little bit left in him, looked little bit burly and not completely tucked up that you want you see in a stayer. We were thrilled with the run. 20 metres past the post, he's obviously clearly in front.

The pleasing thing is he was getting quicker as he got balanced up. Certainly didn't handle that Caulfield turn. Thankfully we'll be at Flemington on Tuesday.

David Duffield: Once you'd reviewed the sectionals, did they confirm what you were impressed with by the eye?

Luke Murrell: Just amazing look. I know nothing improves ownership like a horse, but being subjective, he was outstanding. I'd suggest if that was a Geelong Cup type run, everyone would be all over him. It's fair enough that everyone pots the Herbert Power but a lot of people probably aren't taking into account that it’s only in the last couple of years that the internationals have been allowed one week less in quarantine they have to spend, so that race has been an option, I suppose.

There was a temptation to run in the Caulfield Cup, and I think he would have run very well, but for a lot of these Europeans, it's completely foreign for them to run within 2 weeks.

Even 3 weeks, our connections had some reservations about him, because that's not done over there. Not that he wouldn't handle it, but it's just not done and it's an unknown. We see every year, all these horses come for the Melbourne Cup, and try and go and do a first-up. That's been proven time and time again, that just doesn't work.

It's interesting grouping the horses issue. You look at the Caulfield Cup; from first to end,