WE'RE all well aware just how tough it is to beat the international runners during the Melbourne Spring carnival, so we have made it easier for punters who don't know much about the three international runners in this year's Cox Plate.

After European-raider Adelaide made a sustained run to score with jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle last year, more European runners have made the trip and all look winning chances against Australia's best weight-for-age thoroughbreds.

One of the biggest deterrents for punters backing European horses is that they are simply following the money trail, but the form is there with a little deciphering.

The first of the internationals is the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Arod which has form around some of the best middle distance horses in Europe.

Arod – $9

Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Craig Williams
Form: 3112x

Arod – pronounced like the fishing pole, as opposed to the major league baseball player – is a five-year-old horse which has had only 11 starts for four wins.

The son of Teofilo has finished out of the money only twice in 11 starts, but it hasn't raced since finishing second behind Solow in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

It has won and placed twice in three starts fresh up which is a positive, and any form in behind Solow is world class. Solow is one of the world's best middle distance horses and whilst that came over 1609 metres, the Moonee Valley track makes the 2040 metres seem a touch shorter.

It put back-to-back wins together earlier this year by winning at Epsom by two lengths before winning the Group 2 Summer Mile at Royal Ascot.

Distance concerns aren't a worry as it is unbeaten over 2000 metres and drawing barrier five with Craig Williams in the saddle is a big plus.

We think Arod is a top-five prospect so the place money of $3 at Sportsbet.com.au looks like good value.

Gailo Chop – $26

Trainer: Antoine de Watrigant
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Form: x28x1

This five-year-old gelding from France is unwanted in the market at $26, but there is no real reason why it should be paying that price based on its form.

The son of Deportivo is coming off a last start win in September where it cruised to a four-length victory in the Group 3 La Coupe. That win did come on a heavy track, where it is undefeated in three starts, but it's not just a wet tracker as three of its seven career wins have come on a good track.

It raced as the Royal Ascot carnival in June where it finished eighth and 5.5 lengths from the winner Free Eagle, but that was a rare miss and its form prior was solid enough for the Cox Plate.

It ran second behind Solow in the Group 1 Prix D'Ispahan at Longchamp and as previously mentioned, form behind Solow will stack up against the Australian form.

It was a Group 2 winner in its start prior where it defeated the classy Free Port Lux by 3.5 lengths. It has won four times over this distance and the only negatives are that it has to carry 59kg from barrier eight.

It is the outside chance among the Europeans this year, but $26 at CrownBet.com.au is way over the odds.

Highland Reel – $5.50

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Form: 25115

The current 2015 Cox Plate favourite has Adelaide written all over it, but many experts believe Highland Reel is a much better chance of winning this year.

The classy four-year-old has won four from nine with two placings and despite putting in the odd average performance in Europe, it has to rate very strongly at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The son of Galileo is coming off a last start fifth in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes where it finished only 3.8 lengths behind Golden Horn, which would likely start as the $2 favourite if it lined up in the Cox Plate.

After finishing a disappointing fifth in the Group 1 Irish Derby as a $3.75 favourite, Highland Reel turned its form around by winning consecutive group races.

The first came at Goodwood in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes where it won by 1.5 lengths over Scottish. It then dropped back to Cox Plate distance to win the Group 1 Secretariat at Arlington, USA. It was extremely impressive on that occasion, winning by 5.25 lengths.

Like many O'Brien-trained runners, Highland Reel has done its fair share of traveling, which should make it tough to beat here and punters have climbed into it.

At one stage earlier in the market it was paying as much as $10, but it now stands at $5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au and that price might well drop prior to the running.

We expect Highland Reel to be very competitive from barrier four and it's the best of the international runners in the 2015 Cox Plate this Saturday.