Oxford a sweet 6/4 to win fourth successive University Boat Race
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | March 25, 2016
Easter Sunday’s top sporting event is the 2016 renewal of the University Boat Race between bitter academic institutional rivals Oxford and Cambridge.
Despite losing four of the last five men’s contests, Coral make Cambridge their narrow odds-on 8/15 favourites for victory, and they just edge the overall head-to-head.
Oxford’s recent dominance of the Boat Race means they are closing in on their rivals fast. It’s only 81-79 in favour of Cambridge now, with just one dead heat in history.
Should punters fancy a repeat of that famous 1877 draw, then there are long odds of 125/1.
It’s Oxford that appeal to win, however, at 6/4 because of their fine recent record, and the fact their boat will be 1kg lighter with a slightly younger average age. Jamie Cook was part of their winning crew from last year, and he takes an oar again.
This quintessentially English annual tradition sees the eight-men crews directed by a cox row the 4m 374yds (or 6.779km for all you metric measurement people out there) along the River Thames from Putney Bridge to the University Stone at Mortlake before Chiswick Bridge.
Boats capsizing are not uncommon historically, but a 25/1 price for either Oxford or Cambridge to sink this time suggests it is unlikely.
A new record time for the race cannot be ruled out, however, with odds of 10/1 saying the current mark of 16m 19s can be beaten.
Somewhere between 17 and 18 minutes is reckoned most likely at 4/5, with 9/4 available on 18-19 minutes and 4/1 for the race to be won in under 17.
Coral also offer margin of victory wincasts, with Oxford’s average over the last three years sitting at around six lengths. A repeat of this is 4/1, but under three lengths is shorter at 11/4.
Despite winning just three of the last 11 renewals, Cambridge start at 13/8 to win by three lengths or more. This poor recent record will certainly fuel their crew, but will that be enough?
