Cambridge oarsman Dan O’Shaughnessy is predicting an epic battle at the start of Saturday’s 153rd Boat Race, which is sponsored by Xchanging.

The 24-year-old Canadian says the race could be won or lost in the first six minutes – and he believes the Light Blue crew will have the firepower to win their 79th Boat Race.

“Oxford are lighter and weaker. They can’t have a race plan that involves just holding us. They have to go out into the lead if they want to win.

“I think the first six minutes are going to be crushingly fast. It’s going to be very fast off the line,” he added. “Whoever has the lead after the first six minutes could run away with the race. And I have a good feeling about it.”

But even though O’Shaughnessy believes it will be the Light Blue crew celebrating at Mortlake on Saturday, he knows it will not be easy.

“The only pressure is from the fear of what we to put ourselves through. We all have the same fear as we are all doing it together,” he added. “It’s win or lose, there’s no consolation prize.”

The 153rd Boat Race gets underway at 4.30pm on Saturday 7th April.