Boat Race 2026 Odds: Who are the favourites – Oxford or Cambridge?

The 171st edition of the University Boat Race takes place along the 4.25-mile stretch of the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake on Saturday, April 4, as Oxford and Cambridge do battle in one of the most-famous races on water.

We take you through the crews, the news, where and when to watch, along with the all-important latest Boat Race 2026 Odds from Betfred.

Where and when to watch on TV:

Channel 4 has snaffled up the TV rights until 2028, with Clare Balding presenting live from the banks of the Thames alongside Ade Adepitan.

Alex Jacques will take the lead from the commentary position, while Professor Hannah Fry will examine the science of rowing.

Look out for Jamie Lang, podcaster and former Made In Chelsea star, who will also be joining the presenting team.

The women’s race will get underway at the very specific time of 14:21, with the men’s edition taking place exactly an hour later (15:21).

Meet the Crews:

Oxford Women’s Team (in position order):

Annie Anezakis - Pembroke (Bow)*

Emily Molins - St Hilda’s

Lilli Freischem - Reuben*

Julietta Camahort - Green Templeton

Kyra Delray - Wolfson*

Esther Briz Zamorano - St Edmund Hall

Sarah Marshall - Nuffield*

Heidi Long - Lady Margaret Hall (Stroke)*

Louis Corrigan - Green Templeton (Cox)

Cambridge Women’s Team:

Gemma King - St John’s (Bow)*

Isobel Campbell - Hughes Hall

Charlotte Ebel - Newnham

Carys Earl - Gonvile and Caius*

Antonia Galland - Peterhouse

Camille VanderMeer - Peterhouse

Mia Freischem - Darwin

Aidan Wrenn-Walz - Fitzwilliam (Stroke)

Matt Moran - Emmanuel (Cox)

Oxford Men’s Team (in position order):

Felix Crabtree - Hertford (Bow)

Julian Schoberl - Green Templeton

James Fetter - Oriel

Fergus Pim - New

Alex Underwood - Pembroke

Jamie Arnold - Jesus

Alexander Sullivan - Oriel

Harry Geffen - Keble (Stroke)

Tobias Bernard - Magdalen (Cox)*

Cambridge Men’s Team:

Simon Hatcher - Peterhouse (Bow)*

Noam Mouelle - Hughes Hall*

Kyle Fram - Lucy Cavendish

Patrick Wild - Peterhouse

Gabriel Obholzer - Peterhouse

Alexander McClean - Hughes Hall

William Klipstine - Hughes Hall

Frederik Breuer - Lucy Cavendish (Stroke)

Sammy Houdaigui - Fitzwilliam (Cox)

*raced in 2025

Boat Race 2026 Odds

In the men’s race, Cambridge are big favourites at odds of 1/7, which gives an implied probability of 87.5% that the ‘Duck Egg’ blue of Cambridge will stretch their lead in the head-to-head over rivals Oxford to 88-81.

Cambridge have dominated proceedings in recent years, winning seven of the last nine races along the Thames - and two of last year’s winning crew, who destroyed Oxford by five-and-a-half lengths in under 17 minutes, return in the shape of Simon Hatcher on Bow and the man-mountain that is Noam Mouelle.

Oxford haven’t won the Boat Race since 2022, and they have a very international-looking team doing their bidding to wrestle back the bragging rights, with two Aussies, an American, an Austrian and a Frenchman joining the four Brits. 

In a two-horse race, you can get 4/1 about an Oxford win, which implies they have a 20% chance of winning.

The tie is a 100/1 shot, which hasn’t happened since 1877, when you can expect technology hadn’t advanced much past some University professors in a dinghy with a whistle and flag.

Men’s Boat Race Odds

It’s roles reversed in the women’s race, with Oxford shading the betting at 2/5 (71.4% implied probability) and Cambridge a 15/8 shot (34.8%). The unlikely event of a dead heat is 100/1 again.

Much like their male counterparts, Cambridge has dominated in recent years with eight-straight wins, giving them a total of 49 compared to Oxford’s 30. It’s Oxford who are well-fancied here, with four of their crew returning to this year’s boat - including Bow Annie Anezakis and Stroke Heidi Long.

Both crews are packed with international rowers, with Australia, USA, Germany and Spain all represented.

With two short-priced jollies, a ‘favourites double’ of Oxford Women and Cambridge Men would return £16 from a £10 bet.

Women’s Boat Race Odds 

Bet on the Boat Race

You can bet on the Boat Race with us here at Betfred. If you are a New Customer, just hit the 'Join' button to sign up today. New account holders are eligible for £50 in Free Bets after their first qualifying bet of £10 has been settled. Terms & Conditions apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Check out all our Specials Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights