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Olympics Betting: Men's Athletics Preview - Day Two - Lay Saladino big

Jack Houghton previews the action on the track as the Kenyans battle it out amongst themselves for 10,000 metres gold and on the field where Saladino is a deceptively short price to win the long jump

Men's 3,000m Steeplechase

Paul Koech, the World Champion and fastest in the World this season, could only finish fourth in the Kenyan trials and, despite murmurings he might replace Kemboi, the winner of those trials (because of concerns over Kemboi's hurdling technique), that has not materialised. It underlines the strength of Kenya in this event that an athlete of Koech's quality doesn't even make the team, and indeed the story of all major championships tends to be not if Kenya will fill all the podium places, but in which order they will fill them. It's certainly no easy task to decide which Kenyan will come out on top here. There is little between Kemboi, Kipruto and Mateelong and their prices look about right. Mohammed and Taher stand a chance of wrestling a medal from the Kenyans, but in an illiquid podium finish market, I can't recommend a bet.

Men's Discus

First and fourth respectively in last year's World Championships, Kanter and Alekna have dominated discus throwing so far this year: posting the top eight throws between them; with the nearest competitor over two metres back. It will be a massive shock if either are beaten, and with both available at around [2.8], I recommend a 2pts back of each at that price, making them about [1.4] coupled.

Men's Long Jump

World Champion Irving Saladino heads the Betfair market at [1.6]. He set the World's best for the season when winning with 8.73 in Hengelo but, that jump aside, has failed to go over 8.40 again. On this basis, and with a host of jumpers capable of bettering that mark, [1.6] looks incredibly short and I'd recommend a 3pts lay of Saladino at the price. Tsatoumas has a PB of 8.66 and has jumped 8.44 this year. He is certainly capable of winning, but has failed to deliver in major championships and only managed tenth in the World Indoors earlier this year. Cuba's Ibrahim Camejo is the interesting outsider in the field. He jumped 8.46 when winning in Bilbao, placing him second on the season best list. At a big price of [17.0] I recommend a 1pt bet.

Recommended bets:

Men's Discus Back Gerd Kanter 2pts [2.8]
Men's Discus Back Virgilijus Alekna 2pts [2.8]
Men's Long Jump Lay Irving Saladino 3pts [1.6]
Men's Long Jump Back Ibrahim Camejo 1pt [17.0]