The $6 million Melbourne Cup is now in its final countdown but it is not too late to find a winner.

To help you decide your winning selections we have compiled the best tips from the team of horseracing.com.au journalists who have spent hours analysing race replays and the form.

Mark Mazzaglia – Lights Of Heaven ($18) to beat Americain, Dunaden, Sanagas.

Lights Of Heaven is one flying the flag for the locals in a field dominated by international raiders and imports. Won the Brisbane Cup in the winter and has been set for this race all along by leading Australian trainer Peter Moody. Ran a super third in the Caulfield Cup and gets in well at the weights with 53kg.

Isaac Ling – Mount Athos ($7.50) to beat Dunaden, Cavalryman, Ethiopia.

This could be the horse to deliver Luca Cumani his first Melbourne Cup title. Won his last three starts in the UK prior to arriving in Australia including a dominant 3 1/2 display over Brown Panther who is a well-regarded stayer. It’s no secret that Cumani thinks the horse races best fresh and that is why he hasn’t raced since August. Carries just 54kg and drawn ideally in barrier eight.

Lucy Henderson – Galileo’s Choice ($15) to beat Americain, Lights Of Heaven and Ethiopia.

Trained by the world-renowned Dermot Weld, the Irish stayer heads into the race with both a winning weight (53.5kg) and a winning barrier (11). Lead-up form back home in Ireland was terrific with convincing wins in his past two starts and history as a hurdler suggests the 3200m will be a walk in the park.

Thomas Hackett – Americain ($8) to beat Dunaden, My Quest For Peace, Fiorente.

2010 Melbourne Cup winner who has produced his best performances in Australia’s biggest race. Coming off a strong fourth in the Caulfield Cup where he was caught three wide for the majority of the trip. In-form jockey Damien Oliver jumps aboard. Has a one kilogram weight advantage over last year’s winner Dunaden who carries the top weight of 59kg.

Sarah Fortnum – Mount Athos ($7.50) to beat Mourayan, Americain, Cavalryman.

The second horseracing.com.au journalist to tip Cumani’s progressive galloper. Punters have come for the six-year-old as the race gets closer but there is a query on how he will handle Australian conditions for the first time.