If you're lucky enough to be one of the few that walks away from the Melbourne Cup with cash lining your pockets, rather than betting it all on the next race, I would suggest you consider investing that money into the share market.
Two top shares which I would invest these winnings into are as follows:
Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)
I think that this gaming technology company is one of the best buy and hold investment options on the local market due largely to its fast-growing Digital segment. The segment was recently given an additional boost through the acquisition of Plarium for US$500 million. This acquisition will see Aristocrat Leisure take control of the popular Vikings: War of Clans mobile game, which is expected to generate significant recurring revenues for the company.
Another positive for the company has been the weakening Australian dollar. In the first-half of FY 2017 Aristocrat Leisure generated $715.8 million, or 58.8% of its sales, in the Americas region. I suspect the vast majority of this revenue is from the U.S. market, meaning the company could benefit greatly from favourable currency movements if the local currency continues to weaken.
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)
This private hospital operator is another share which I think would be a great long-term buy and hold investment. People across the world are living longer than ever. As populations age, demand for healthcare services is expected to increase significantly. I believe this puts Ramsay and its global footprint of private hospitals in a great position to profit greatly.
Furthermore, although it has no formal plans to expand into China at this stage, management has spoken numerous times about how it believes the Chinese market is a lucrative opportunity. I suspect that within the next few years we will see Ramsay expand into China, potentially giving its earnings growth a real boost.
