Nick Brodie is looking forward to the 2007 Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging after coxing last year’s losing Isis crew.

Brodie was originally selected to cox Oxford’s Blue Boat last year, but was then dropped four weeks out from the race.

He said it was a huge disappointment for him, but he didn’t have to think twice about competing for a place in the Dark Blue Boat for this year’s race.

“I felt I had to come back. I really wanted to do the Boat Race and I wanted to win it, and that hasn’t changed,” said the 20-year Oxford cox.

“It was a pretty tough couple of weeks for me when I was dropped from the crew. I’d put a lot of pressure on myself, almost too much pressure.

“This year I’m taking a different approach and it’s going really well. I’m really happy and I don’t see last year repeating itself.”

Brodie will renew his rivalry with Cambridge cox Russ Glenn – Glenn coxed the Goldie boats that beat Brodie’s Isis crews in 2005 and 2006.

“He has a very good crew and I definitely won’t be underestimating him," said Brodie. "He has done a really good job in the Goldie boat in the last two years.”

Brodie has been coxing on the Thames since he was a schoolboy at Abingdon School and says he has a good understanding of the Tideway.

“I feel know it a lot better than on previous years,” he said. “I’m confident I know where the stream is and I should be on the bends.”

Oxford head coach Sean Bowden paid tribute to Brodie for putting last year’s disappointment behind him to win a place in the Dark Blue crew.

“It takes a lot of guts to come back, but I’m not surprised because I never doubted he had the guts. He’s a really good guy and a good cox,” he said.

The 2007 Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging, takes place at 4.30pm on Saturday 7th April. It will be broadcast live on ITV Sport, who achieved an audience of more than 7 million in 2006.

Some 250,000 spectators traditionally line the banks of the Thames to enjoy the iconic event.