Olympic Games Update Six

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Four finals

Womens 200m free

Pellegrini set a world record in the heats and then cruised in the semis with a time almost two seconds slower, making her third fastest. The top three in the market have all swum 1.55s in the last six weeks so it will be close.

The Italian set an Olympic record in the heats for the 400m and then blew up in the final, swimming over three seconds slower than her PB. That was her big chance, the winning time was really slow for an Olympic final. There'll be no room for that mistake again. At odds-on, I think she is rotten value.

Can Katie Hoff get just one gold? A week ago she was being tipped for five! She's not out of this but she seems to have peaked at the US trials and not Beijing, that's a bad taper. 5.5 is a tempting price though.

Isakovic is the only swimmer in the field to break 1.56 twice. Can't see why she's available at bigger than 2/1 then. She's also pulled out of the 200fly to concentrate on this.

3pts Isakovic 3.5 BlueSq, Bet365, Canbet (back down to 2.9)

Mens 200m fly

The interest in this race can only be about the world record and the steps for Michael Phelps to eight golds. Can he do it? It's looking more and more likely after that unbelievable relay win on Monday. The men's 100m fly is the one he has to worry about. Ian Crocker will be out there to win, not be the bloke who came second, that's the only danger as far as I can see. I reckon Yes is now about a 1.6 shot.

Womens 200IM

Coventry set an Olympic record in the semis, but no medals for that obviously. She'd come off an hour's break since getting the silver in the 100 backstroke. I'd say she was pissed off.

Coughlin was the one that beat her and Hoff had also had semis for the 200 freestyle in the same session. The tricky part is who was trying, who had the adrenalin rush and who was cruising?

Tough race. I fancy Rice but her price is about right. I'd need 2.4 before I'd back her. Either of the Yanks could pull a mini-surprise and Coventry won't be too keen on taking home another silver. I'd be tempted to back Coughlin if she got out to 8.5 or more.

I think I'll sit back and watch it. No bet.

Mens 4x200m free

Yanks by a street with Phelps claiming gold number five.