Athletics, Cricket and Football

What a weekend! Makes you proud to be British. Now just to keep those convicts at bay for 3rd place in the medals table. But today is all about athletics, with a cricket bet which is likely to be rained off.

12.40 Jones to win 100m Hurdles 9/4 (7th -1.15 - all looked good til a late stumble cost her)
Lolo Jones ran the fastest time of the year just last month in qualifying for the Olympics. Bridgitte Foster-Hylton has matched that but not this year. Lolo has the semi at lunchtime today before the final tomorrow afternoon, but get on now for the value.

1.10 Saladino to win Long Jump 8/11 (WON -0.42 - too easy for Irving. Anytime anyone got close, he went further)
Irving Saladino this year jumped further than anyone has for 14 years, which in athletics is a long time! There are whispers Mike Powell's 8.95m 17 year old world record could be in danger in this final, but the result is barely in doubt as the Panamanian has jumped a whole foot further than anyone else this year. In qualifying he has two fouls so just made a safe 8.01m, but expect another couple of feet on that in the final.

1.45 Kent bt Derbyshire 4/9 (WON +0.02 - Derbyshire 60
Kent are unbeaten in their three Pro40 games this season, and were on top last Monday when the farce with the wind and the floodlights abandoned the game with Leicestershire. Derbyshire however, have only won one game. Some may doubt Kent having lost on Saturday but Rob Key's attitude will makes sure his charges are back fighting today, and I expect he and Joe Denly to make Derbyshire's bowlers toil - they went through a 4 day game last week versus Kent's easy build up to the final.

2.10 Kemboi to win 3000m Steeplechase 7/2 (LOST -1.02 - took the lead going into last lap but couldnt stay the pace)
Ezekiel Kemboi was 4th in his heat to qualify for the final in the fastest heat - his time was the 4th fastest of all three heats. But he has plenty in reserve - the three who just edged ahead of him all ran personal or season best times. He is second favourite to Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong but Kemboi is defending champion and has a PB 3 seconds quicker than the favourite. Expect him to ris to the occasion again today.

3 Clement win 400m Hurdles 5/4 (2nd -1.98 - Another who looked good coming into the straight but Angelo found another reserve)
Kerron Clement is the fastest man over this event since Kevin Young set his world record in Barcelona 16 years ago. This year he hasnt quite reached that tims, but he is one of only two men in the final go under 48 seconds. He won the world championships last year and ahs won all four Golden League, Super Grand Prix and Grand Prix races he has run this year. Expect this to cap things off.

7.45 Gash 1st goalscorer 9/1 (1/2 1-2-3) (LOST -2.98 - we got the result right, but not the bet unfortunately)
Ebbsfleet only have one point from 2 games and Torquay have four, hence why the Gulls are odds on tonight, but don't discount the visitors. Their defeat on Tuesday night came at a Rushden side who are looking to get back into the league, and the opening day draw was at relegated Mansfield, so tow of the best side's in the division. Similarly Torquay's 2-1 home victory were against early strugglers Woking who have lost all three so far, and Histon who just escaped relegation last season. The prices on the game have meant that first goalscorer odds are also skewed, and Ebbsfleet's favourite to score, Michael Gash, is available at 9/1 with Ladbrokes. He scored the first goal at Mansfield last week continuing his record of 27 in 29 goals last season in the Conference South for Cambridge. With Ladbrokes offering 1/2 odds for first three scorers he seems excellent value.