So the question is – can the ‘heavies’ of Oxford make their weight advantage count in the BNY Mellon Boat Race from Putney to Mortlake on Sunday (4.30pm)?

The momentum is with the Dark Blues after their clean sweep of the Henley Boat races last week.

Oxford might also spurred on by the memory of last year when their race was disrupted by an intruder and a broken blade, which resulted in a Cambridge victory.

The Dark Blues go into the race with a six-pound per man weight advantage. They may also receive the greater British support since they have five Britons in the crew with Cambridge fielding just two. Oxford’s overseas line-up in-cludes two Americans – cox Oskar Zorrilla, from St Hugh’s and Patrick Close, from Pembroke, in the bow.

Then there is stroke, Canadian Malcolm Howard –the heaviest man in the race and now at Oriel and a Beijing and London gold and silver medallist – and Sam O’Connor from New Zealand. The home-grown Oxford talent includes three former Blues, Karl Hudspith and Alex Davidson, from Christ Church, and Constantine Louloudis, a Blue in 2011 before taking 2012 out to concentrate on winning a bronze medal in the GB eight at the London Olympics.

Sean Bowden, Oxford’s renowned coach, did not go over the top after seeing his crew win their warm-ups. “Winning’s still as much fun as I remember it being,” he said. “So I’m pretty well motivated to keep doing that. “There was a great deal of disappointment last year – obviously I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen.” One of those affected by the disappointment, caused by the swimming protester, was the new president Alex Davidson.

He says of his new squad: “They are experienced, very level-headed, there’s not much shocking the guys this year, and everyone just gets on, which makes my life significantly easier. “It’s a very cohesive team – it’s just a pleasure to be part of.” But will they win? Well, I won’t hedge my bets. I think they will, assuming no errant swimmers get in their way. They have produced impressive wins in their private fixtures, seem capable of keeping calm in tight racing scenarios and when the weather is adverse, and can produce an extra turn of speed at the right point. Looking for historical clues, the last time that Oxford were stroked by a Canadian was in 1984 – and they won after the race was delayed to a Sunday when Cambridge hit a barge and sank in their warm up.

Martin Cross, a former Olympic gold medallist, and a good Boat Race predictor, goes for Oxford. “They are not pretty, but they are well together and seem to have a clearer idea of what they are doing.

“When Howard and Louloudis put the burner on, it is worth watching.”

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Oxford University – bow: Patrick Close, 14st 2lb; 2: Geordie Macleod, 13st 10lb; 3: Alex Davidson, 15st 2lb; 4: Sam O’Connor, 14st 0lb; 5: Paul Bennett, 15st 11lb; 6: Karl Hudspith, 14st 8lb; 7: Constantine Louloudis, 14st 11lb; stroke: Malcolm Howard, 17st 3lb; cox: Oskar Zorrilla, 8st 4lb. Total weight: 127st 8lb.

Cambridge University – bow: Grant Wilson, 14st 2lb; 2: Milan Bruncvik, 13st 0lb; 3: Alex Fleming, 15st 5lb; 4: Ty Otto, 14st 4lb; 5: George Nash, 14st 13lb; 6: Steve Dudek, 16st 0lb; 7: Alexander Scharp, 14st 9lb; stroke: Niles Garratt, 13st 8lb; cox: Henry Fieldman, 8st 8lb. Total weight: 124st 7lb.