Every year the star runners in the capacity 24-horse field come into the ‘race that stops a nation’ via a variety of different lead-ups, but which form will stack up in the 153^rd edition of the Melbourne Cup this afternoon?

Fawkner is out to become the 12th horse to complete the Caulfiled Cup - Melbourne Cup double. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Below we take a look at the final lead-up run for all the horses in the 2013 $6 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) so you can see where and when they had their last start, as well has how they finished.

We’ll also note any relevant Melbourne Cup form facts and lead-up race stats to reveal which horses are the bets Melbourne Cup tips 2013 based on where they have come from and how they performed.

Use the below info to place a well-informed Melbourne Cup wager with the best chance of paying out in Flemington Race 7 this afternoon.

#1 Duanden (1)

Last 6: 43228

Last Start: 8^th to Orfevre in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy (2400m), Longchamp (FR), 15/09/2013

Form Fact: First time in three years they go into the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up run down under

#2 Green Moon (10)

Last 6: 4X599

Last Start: 9^th to Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 23/10/2013

Form Fact: Come off an unplaced run in the Cox Plate last year to win the Melbourne Cup

#3 Red Cadeaux (23)

Last 6: 89624

Last Start: 4^th to Voleuse De Coeurs in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m), 15/09/2013

Form Fact: Meet Voleuse De Coeurs again here, this time carrying 56.5kg down from 62kg

#4 Sea Moon (7)

Last 6: X0021

Last Start: Won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), 12/10/2013

Form Fact: 11 of the past 19 Melbourne Cup winners came off a last start victory

#5 Brown Panther (6)

Last 6: 8X115

Last Start: 5^th to Grandeur in the Listed Foundation Stakes (1986m), Goodwood (GB), 25/09/2013

Form Fact: Doesn’t bode well their final lead-up run wasn’t down under

#6 Fiorente (5)

Last 6: X6143

Last Start: 3^rd to Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 26/10/2013

Form Fact: Last Melbourne Cup winner to come off a top three finish in the Cox Plate was Makybe Diva (won in 2005)

#7 Foreteller (15)

Last 6: 81024

Last Start: 4^th to Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 23/10/2013

Form Fact: The Cox Plate has produced five Melbourne Cup winners since 1994

#8 Dandino (4)

Last 6: X2212

Last Start: 2^nd to Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Caulfield, 19/10/2013

Form Fact: The last horse to come from a minor placing in the Caulfield Cup to win at Flemington was Delta Blues (20060

#9 Ethiopia (14)

Last 6: X5004

Last Start: 4^th to Ruscello in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m), Flemington, 02/11/2013

Form Fact: Came off a 4^th (in the Cox Plate) last year when dead last in the Melbourne Cup

#10 Fawkner (8)

Last 6: X7531

Last Start: Won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Caulfield, 19/10/2013

Form Fact: Out to become the 12^th Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double winner in history, the first since Ethereal (2001)

#11 Mourayan (19)

Last 6: 1X787

Last Start: 7^th to Side Glance in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), Flemington, 02/11/2013

Form Fact: The last Melbourne Cup winner to come via the Mackinnon was Viewed (2008)

#12 Seville (9)

Last 6: 00917

Last Start: 7^th to Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 26/10/2013

Form Fact: Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon was 7^th in the Cox Plate before their Flemington Race 7 success

#13 Super Cool (13)

Last 6: 34935

Last Start: 5^th to Shamus Award in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 26/10/2013

Form Fact: The Cox Plate has been one of the best last-start Melbourne Cup guides in recent years including producing last year’s winner Green Moon (7^th)

#14 Masked Marvel (2)

Last 6: X0320

Last Start: last start 13^th in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley, 26/10/2013

Form Fact: There are better horses coming via this year’s Cox Plate to include in your Melbourne Cup tips

#15 Mount Athos (22)

Last 6: X1582

Last Start: 2^nd to Harris Tweed in the Listed March Stakes (2816m), Goodwood (GB), 24/08/2013

Form Fact: Four of the five internationally-trained Melbourne Cup winners had their lead-up run down under

#16 Royal Empire (11)

Last 6: X1122

Last Start: 2^nd to Secret Number in the Group 3 Lodge Stakes (2414m), Ascot (GB), 05/10/2013

Form Fact: The only overseas-trained Melbourne Cup winner not to have a previous start down under was Vintage Crop (1993)

#17 Voleuse De Coeurs (21)

Last 6: 21321

Last Start: 1^st in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m), Curragh (IRE), 15/09/2013

Form Fact: Two of the five international raiders to win the Cup were Irish, including Vintage Crop (1993) who also won the Irish St Leger in their final lead-up run

#18 Hawkspur (18)

Last 6: 71457

Last Start: 7^th to Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Caulfield, 19/10/2013

Form Fact: 21 Melbourne Cup winners had their final run in the Caulfield Cup since 1970

#19 Simenon (12)

Last 6: X4223

Last Start: 3^rd to Sea Moon in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), Caulfield, 12/10/2013

Form Fact: Four of the five past overseas raiders to win the Cup all had their final lead-up in the Herbert Power

#20 Ibicenco (17)

Last 6: 51801

Last Start: Won the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), Geelong, 23/10/2013

Form Fact: Three of the five internationally-trained Melbourne Cup winners – Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) – won the Geelong Cup in the lead-up

#21 Verema (3)

Last 6: 32511

Last Start: Won the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m), Deauville (FR), 18/08/2013

Form Fact: Same race produced the two French-trained Melbourne Cup winners: Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011)

#22 Dear Demi (16)

Last 6: 73832

Last Start: 2^nd to Side Glance in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), Flemington, 02/11/2013

Form Fact: The last Melbourne Cup winner to come off a top three finish in the Mackinnon was Rogan Josh (won in 1999)

#23 Tres Blue (20)

Last 6: 13211

Last Start: 1^st in the Group 2 Prix De Deauville (2500m), Deauville (FR), 25/08/2013

Form Fact: While it wasn’t a win down under, winning their last-start is statistically an advantage

#24 Ruscello (24)

Last 6: 33321

Last Start: Won the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m), Flemington, 02/11/2013

Form Fact: Eight horses have completed the Lexus Stakes – Melbourne Cup double, most recently Shocking (2009)