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Olympics Betting: Women's Rowing Preview

Jack Houghton is our man on all things rowing at the Beijing Oympics. See his tips for the women's rowing competition here. Will China dominate as many expect?

Whereas the preceding year's World Championships provide a guide to the men's Olympic regatta, the picture is not as clear in the women's division. Yes, it gives a starting point; but in Athens, it was only the New Zealand Double Skulls pairing who were able to follow up their World Championship win of 2003. A further complication is added by the emergence of China as a dominant force in women's rowing. Whilst they have some medal hopes in the men's division, notably in the Lightweight Fours, it is their women who have really impressed. Barring the eight, they hold likely medal chances with every boat. Indeed, they are market favourites for three of the six events, and probably should be favourite for a fourth, where patriotic interests maintain Great Britain as the choice in the Quadruple Skulls.

Despite this dominance, China only hold an outside hope in the Single Skulls. Belarus' Ekaterina Karsten comes into these Games undefeated since Athens, where she won silver. She is the reigning, and three-time consecutive, World Champion and dominated the three World Cup events earlier this summer. However, whilst I would not want to be a layer at her likely price of around [1.35], I couldn't back her either. Knapkova from the Czech Republic is her most consistent rival, finishing second in each of those World Cup races, but the value may lie in the lesser-known Chinese rower, Zhang. Based on her third place in Lucerne, I'll be having a small bet on her in the win and podium finish markets at anything bigger than [26.0] and [8.0] respectively.

In the Women's Pairs, Belarus, fielding the same couple who won the World Championships and claimed bronze in Athens, will be popular with some; but they've failed to perform this year and look too short at their likely price of around [5.0]. Germany and Romania are finding it hard to settle on their final crew whilst the New Zealand best this year was silver in a weak Poznan race. The USA has its chance, particularly based on its fielding of two boats in Lucerne; finishing second and third. But the stand-out bet of the regatta is China at any price bigger than [2.6]. Wu and Gao looked impressive in Munich and Lucerne, and it's difficult to see the disarrayed competition (with the exception of the USA) posing any sort of challenge. I view China as a maximum bet, with a small saver on the USA at [9.0].

The Women's Double Skulls looks relatively straightforward for China and I will be backing Li and Tian at any price over [1.7]. World Champions and winners in Munich and Lucerne, they are unbeaten in over year. To add insult, another Chinese pairing filled second spot in the World Cup regatta in Munich, demonstrating the dearth of genuine opposition.

China may find things more difficult in the Lightweight Double Skulls. Although the fastest crew of all time on the clock and winners in Lucerne, Xu and Yan only managed bronze in Munich. With a strong team to choose from, it's possible this won't be the pairing representing China, but even with more talented personnel, the [3.5] looks a bit skinny. The Netherlands, at likely odds of around [14.0], have slowly improved after only reforming their partnership this year, and that price looks big in the context of their second behind China in Lucerne. Pre-selected on the back of their World Championship win, the Australian pairing of Halliday and Houston also look value at around [4.0]. I'll be taking on China with both pairings.

Although World Champions in the Quadruple Skulls, it's hard to quite fathom how Great Britain are [2.7] shots. I'd be a layer at any price up to [3.0]. They were only a second ahead of Germany in those World Championships, with China - who will field a much stronger crew this year - a further two seconds behind. Although GB won in Munich, they were tonked by a revised Chinese crew in Lucerne, only managing bronze behind a new USA line-up who took silver. China look the most likely winners, but [3.25] doesn't look particularly appealing. A small back of the USA at [13.0] is the value call.

The Women's Eight looks even more difficult to decipher than the men's equivalent. Romania have won the last three Olympics, but were second to the USA in last year's World Championships. The USA have rowed in Europe once this year, winning in Lucerne, but the Romanians were absent that day. The USA are the most likely winners, and [3.75] looks to be about the right price, but it's hard to recommend a stand out bet when a case can be made for Australia, Canada and the Netherlands to be competitive. It's a no bet.

Reading this back, I could perhaps written this preview in fewer words: Back China. Good luck.

For a preview of the men's rowing, click here.

Here's a summary of Jack's recommendations: