People across Australia will be heading to the track or closest TAB to back their favourite horse in the Cup before it kicks off tomorrow afternoon.

Local horse trainer Billy Walker has one method for picking a winner.

“I do it by trifecta, quinella and best pick each way,” Mr Walker said.

“I’m backing four horses Viewed, Roman Emperor, Efficient and Dandaad.

“I bet every weekend, have for all my life.”

Gavin Riley and Ben Barrett both said they chose their horse by its trainer.

“I go by the trainer or the name,” Mr Riley said.

“That’s just the way I like to do it.

“I’ll be punting for Zipping.”

“Bart Cummings is a well-known

trainer and has won 13 Melbourne Cups so I’ll be backing his horses,” Mr Barrett said.

“I always go by trainers.”

Horses can win from any barrier; however, in saying that, no horse has ever won from barrier number 18. The luckiest barrier number for the past 50 years has been number 11.

“I usually read the form guide,” Chris Trindall said.

“I’ll back any horse trained by Bart Cummings at the moment. Anything owned by him I’ll back all day.

“There’s a few good ones this year so I’ll place a bet.”

The luckiest saddle cloth number for the past 50 years has been number six and no horse with a name beginning with q, u, i or x has ever won the Cup.

Bill McCallum who doesn’t punt always watches the race out of interest, while Ken Stace said he just has a guess when choosing what horse to back.

“I only put one bet on all year; I see a name I like and I’ll probably put a couple of dollars on it,” he said.