The 153rd Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging, looks set to be held in warm dry conditions, on flat, even water – the sort of “ideal” conditions that the Cambridge crew’s Olympic champion Kieran West was hoping for when he looked forward to the race earlier this week.

The Met Office weather forecast is predicting a dry day for London, with bright or sunny spells and top temperatures of 16 or 17°C.

Unlike last year, the winds will be light – of no more than five miles per hour – guaranteeing what West called a “good neutral course which gives no one side or the other an advantage”.

The light winds will be coming from the north east – adding a little chill to the air – but no significant boost to the favourites Cambridge, the significantly heavier crew, traditionally said to be an advantage in a strong headwind.

The conditions should also please Oxford, who will be looking for an upset this afternoon. Oxford coach Sean Bowden said on Tuesday: “I don’t mind what weather we get as long as it’s not terrible. The forecast looks reasonable, which is fine for us.”