Every year there are always touts about overseas contenders and personally I have always treated them with a grain of salt. So far it has been to my own profit.

However, don't let Beekeeper get under your guard this year. A colleague of mine has very strong links to some serious punters in the UK (who also follow Aust racing) and they believe that at the weights and over 2400m he has this field covered (if he races to his ability on the day of course).

In betting Beekeeper has been backed to win an absolute fortune to the point where a number of Australia's prominent bookmakers will not expose themselves to any more for significant sums on the horse. Of course that doesn't mean he will win, my main point is that we should consider him as a genuine chance.

He likes to race in the first 5 or 6 and by all reports the stable is very pleased with his work since arriving in Australia. He has drawn in barrier 6 so looks like he will get a perfect run just behind the speed.

Personally I stood him out as the CC winner in doubles with 6 of the now favoured runners in the Melbourne Cup, at massive odds relative to what they are now.

My own assessment is that he is a realitic $9-10 chance, so there is probably not alot of betting value left. However if you are rating the race, certainly allow enough in your percentages to represent the fact that he has a very good winning chance.

If he wins it will be a big betting coup for his supporters and then a nervous wait until the Melbourne Cup to see if I can cash in.

If he gets well beaten of course he will just be another hyped overseas contender who failed to live up to expectations.