Oxford University are strong favourites to extend their Dark Blue dynasty on the River Thames in Saturday’s 156th Xchanging Boat Race (4.30pm).

The Oxford head coach Sean Bowden has overseen seven victories in the last ten years and he rates his current crew to be just as good as the 2009 Blue boat, which won by three and a half lengths.

However Bowden, understands the race’s prop-ensity for throwing up the unexpected and he dismissed the bookmakers’ predictions as ‘inexplicable’.

Not only do Cambridge rate themselves as an improved crew after a full year working under head coach Chris Nilsson, but the weather could prove a major factor.

The official race forecast has warned the crews of a potential squall and predicted strong winds, rain and choppy conditions over the gruelling four-and-a-quarter-mile course from Putney to Mortlake.

But Bowden was careful not to betray any doubt that Oxford are good enough to battle past any adversity and clinch a third straight victory over Cambridge.

“We have been preparing for six months for this race.

“The crew will be nervous and excited on the day and they can turn that around as a positive,” said Bowden.

“In a front of a big crowd they will want to win. We know Cambridge will always produce a great crew and we need to be on top of our game.

“The odds don’t put any pressure on our guys. You are favourites if you feel you have a good boat, that you have had a good season.

“Our ambition is always to beat the crew from the year before.

“They have shown some good stuff and they would give last year’s crew a good race.

“All the testing and physiology has been encouraging.

“You have high expectations and you don’t want to let yourself down – that is where the pressure is.”

Oxford were forced to abandon their trials in early December after a pump broke in their main boat, which subsequently took on too much water in heavy conditions.

But Bowden is confident Oxford can cope.

“We have had a few rough races in the last ten years and we have generally done okay in them,” he said.

“It can get a bit of a lottery out there. We take the conditions very seriously.”

SATURDAY’S CREWS.

Oxford: B Myers (GB), M Walsh (Ire), T Winklevoss (USA), C Winklevoss (USA), S Hamburger (Ned), M Evans (Can/GB), S Gawlick (Ger), C Burkitt (GB), A Bar-hamand (cox, USA) Cambridge: R Weitemeyer (Can), G Roth (Can), G Nash (GB), P McCelland (Can), D McEachern (USA), H Pelly (GB), D Ras-mussen (USA), F Gill (GB), T Randolph (cox, GB).