Kipsang can win London Marathon and potentially break world record

All eyes will be on Mo Farah as he will stay true to his plans to run the first half of the London Marathon and there is a real possibility that the added focus on the Brit could result in the world record being broken.

It is 5/1 that the current world record of 2:03.38 set by Kenyan Patrick Makau in Berlin in 2011 could be under threat, even if this is over a minute quicker than any time ever registered in London.

One of the strongest marathon line-ups ever assembled is to line up in London, including all three Olympic medallists and the 2012 marathon winners from London, Chicago, Berlin, Frankfurt and Dubai.

This shows a high level of competition and Farah’s involvement should ensure they settle into their running early and enjoy plenty of road-side support.

In terms of identifying a winner, a Kenyan winner has to be predicted as they have been responsible for eight of the last nine victors.

Wilson Kipsang triumphed 12 months ago and is favourite to do so again at 2/1 and given that he is determined to qualify for the Kenyan team that will head to the World Championships later this year, he must be regarded as the one to beat.

Of the opposition, Patrick Makau is currently responsible for London’s fastest time and can be backed at 9/2, while Uganda’s Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich is 20/1, which looks decent each-way value for a top-three finish.

In terms of the women’s race, the absence of Mary Keitany, winner of the last two London Marathons, as she is expecting a child makes the contest more wide open.

Olympic gold medallist Tiki Gelana heads the betting at 5/4, but Ethiopians do not have the greatest London record, with Derartu Tulu’s triumph in 2001 their sole victory.

Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat may be the best option at 5/1 having finished third and second in the last two years in London.

Europeans have won this in three of the last five years and Portugal’s Jessica Augusto may be worthy of some each-way attention at 66/1, having finished eighth last year.

She is arguably still adjusting to the marathon too, having previously competed over the longer track distances.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.