Weekend Review: Punters get stuck into the Olympics as Team GB secures first medals
Football remains Kindred’s highest turnover event during the games in Tokyo as Adayar’s fine form continues at Ascot
After a year delay amid the Covid-19 pandemic, punters have been getting their teeth into the Olympics at long last.
With the addition of new events like skateboarding joining the more conventional swimming and athletics, bettors and layers have been battling it out across the various events on offer.
With the large time difference between Tokyo and the UK, overnight competition is commonplace. Team GB secured three gold medals and a silver on day three of the competition.
Swimming phenomenon Adam Peaty powered to a 100m breaststroke gold to become the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title.
Elsewhere in the pool, diver Tom Daley secured his first gold at the fourth attempt after winning the men’s synchronised 10m platform event with partner Matty Lee.
GOLD. GOLD. GOLD.@TomDaley1994 and @mattydiver are Olympic champions ?#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/ocstLZ4ZfP
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
Finally, 21-year-old Tom Pidcock secured gold in the men’s mountain bike cross-country race while Londoner Alex Yee earned silver in the men’s triathlon.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “Punters have been getting stuck into the Olympics over the weekend and have racked up some good numbers.
“Football has seen the most interest so far in terms of turnover, and results so far have gone their way as we’re slightly in the red in the early days.
“But all told it’s been a good start to the games for layers as we came out comfortably ahead from opening weekend,” he added.
Back in the UK, Peter Wright secured the World Matchplay darts title in Blackpool after blitzing defending champion Dimitri van den Bergh 18-9.
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Peter Wright wins the Betfred World Matchplay for the first time!
Another sublime display in the final sees him snatch the Phil Taylor Trophy from Dimitri Van den Bergh. pic.twitter.com/Lf0ERCdSCt
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2021
Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “A great example of how sport is lifted immeasurably by the presence of passionate fans having an absolute ball.
“A sold-out, sun-drenched week in Blackpool capped off by a magnificent, imperious Betfred World Matchplay-winning effort from supreme dartist Peter Wright.”
Finally, Adayar, the 9/4 second-favourite, followed up his Epsom Derby win with victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, becoming the first Derby winner to follow up in the Group 1 feature at Ascot since 2001.
Ridden by William Buick and trained by Charlie Appleby, Adayar pulled clear at the Berkshire track to finish one-and-three-quarter lengths clear of Mishriff in second, while pre-race favourite Love could only muster a third-place finish.
What a performance, what a colt! ✈️
Adayar is a fantastic winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and @godolphin at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/tv0hG4QIem
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 24, 2021
Firkins added: “At Ascot, you could be forgiven for reminiscing about the great Galileo, as his grandson Adayar followed in his legendary hoofprints at the Berkshire track some 20 years on.
“He’s tough, relentless, and could get better yet. A tilt at the Arc surely beckons, and Betfred have him at around 4/1 for the autumn showpiece.”