Who would your money be on in a race between a top-class athlete and a Class 5 sprinter trained by Brendan Powell?

Well like any race it depends on the course, distance, going and more importantly the current form.

Peopleton Brook was last seen finishing fourth in a Newbury sprint handicap, whilst relay runner Jamie Baulch won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. However, even with a 20-metre head start he was no match for his equine opponent on the Kempton polytrack.

Here’s what happened last night:

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Martin Lel can be backed at 2/1 to win a third successive London Marathon, but the outsiders have been nibbled at in the mens betting market this week. Lel has the course record but punters are concerned that he may be nursing a hip injury. 

The 30 year old Kenyan made little appeal at 6/4, but I am tempted now that the bookies have pushed him out to 2/1. 

Sammy Wanjiru can be backed at 11/4 with Ladbrokes. He broke the Olympic Marathon record in Beijing last year and it’s reported that he’s targeting the world record on Sunday. An obvious alternative to the favourite. 

Each-way backers are looking towards the likes of 7/1 Tsegay Kebede and 9/1 Zersenay Tadese to fill their pockets. The latter won bronze in Athens over 10,000m.

The betting story must be Jaouad Gharib, who has been well supported into 10/1 from 16s. The Moroccan athlete only began to compete seriously at the age of 22 and got silver in Beijing last year. 

The womens race has a similar betting complexion, with Irina Mikitenko installed as the 2/1 jolly. She won last year’s event, but pulled out of Beijing. 

Mara Yamauchi has a degree in PPE from Oxford University, and is Britain’s best chance at glory at 25/1. She was 22 seconds off a Beijing medal, and has a realistic place chance this Sunday.

6/1 looks a generous price for Catherine Ndereba, who has won 18 out of the 21 marathons that she has competed in.

Punters are smashing into Martha Komu, who is 40/1 from 66/1. Ladbrokes and Paddy Power are running scared at 14/1. She won last year’s Paris Marathon and was a surprise inclusion in Kenya’s Olympic team. She finished fifth, so deserves to be a shorter price than Yamauchi. 

Compare London Marathon odds at bookies.com:

London Marathon Mens Winner Betting

London Marathon Womens Winner Betting