Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.
As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.
Men’s 400 metre hurdle final
Olympic Athletics
K.O 20.45, BBC 1
QUALIFYING TIMES (PERSONAL BESTS)
World Record 46.78 Olympic Record 46.78
1 Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic) 47.76 (47.25)
2 Javier Culson (Puerto Rico) 47.93 (47.72)
3 Angelo Taylor (USA) 47.95 (47.25)
4 Jehue Gordon (Trinidad and Tobago) 47.96 (47.96)
5 Kerron Clement (USA) 48.12 (47.24)
6 Michael Tinsley (USA) 48.18 (48.02)
7 David Greene (Great Britain) 48.19 (47.84)
8 Omar Cisneros (Cuba) 48.23 (47.99)
PREVIEW
The Olympic track is racing very fast, as we witnessed last night, and the zippy surface was responsible for five of the eight 400m hurdle finalists hitting a season’s best time. Jehue Gordon also set a national Trinidad and Tobago record in the semi-final heats.
Great Britain’s David Greene is the sole representative from outside the USA or the Caribbean and the reigning world and Commonwealth title holder, as well as former European champion, only qualified as a fastest loser, having finished fourth in heat one. As a result his poor lane draw is likely to hinder him and the rather laboured way he finished his race suggests the Welshman is going to find it hard to turn around the form with those who finished ahead of him in qualifying.
Puerto Rican, Javier Culson, and Dominican, Felix Sanchez, are flip-flopping favourites at the head of the BETDAQ market after impressive qualifying displays. 28 year-old Culson has shown steady progression since Beijing, where he finished 8th, shaving off more than a second from his previous personal best in the four years since. Even so, Sanchez clocked a far quicker time in his heat when it appeared the Athens 2004 winner was still holding a little back.
At 34, Sanchez would be a bit of a surprise winner but there seemed nothing fluky about his semi-final performance in which he saw off David Greene, Kerron Clement and Jehue Gordon. Angelo Taylor is a three-time Olympic champion, twice in this event, and shouldn’t be dismissed lightly. The American makes up the shortlist.
But, with a decent draw, Sanchez looks worth sticking with as he bids to become the Dominican Republic’s first medal winner of the week.
RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
Back Sanchez at around 2.36 on BETDAQ : 4 point
Sunday: +4.10
AUGUST RETURN TO DATE: -12.90 points
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