You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.
2026 Sky Bet Dash Preview
Scheduled to take place in July of each year at the York racecourse is the Sky Bet Dash, a competitive class two handicap that is contested over a six-furlong trip. The race is restricted to runners aged three or older and carries a £100k prize fund.
The race usually attracts a decent-sized field with the good money involved in the race, and of late, those at the top of the market have struggled, which means finding the winner can result in a decent payout!
Sky Bet Dash Information:
Our dedicated York tips page will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Sky Bet Dash, but will also have predictions for each meeting at York throughout the season, so be sure to head over there. You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Other Principal Races at York Racecourse section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Sky Bet Dash market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2006, when the race had an over-round of 116%. The race in 2016 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 139%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Sky Bet Dash, the over-round has been 128%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £128 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Sky Bet Dash Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Sky Bet Dash Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Sky Bet Dash races over the last 20 renewals:
- Wyatt Earp (1:08.78) in 2006
- Muthmir (1:09.42) in 2014
- Kimberella (1:09.66) in 2016
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Sky Bet Dash next time out, then you would have backed a total of 5 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +19.83. Remember to use the racing predictions along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2026 Sky Bet Dash.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2007 renewal when Zomerlust from John Quinn under the guidance of Graham Gibbons, won in a time of 1:14.65, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Wyatt Earp, trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Royston Ffrench set the quickest time of 1:08.78 in the 2006 renewal.
Sky Bet Dash Past Winners
Here are the Sky Bet Dash past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. Also detailed is the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Sky Bet Dash are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 1:10.93 | Elmonjed (IRE) 4yo 9-6 (10 of 19) 9/2F | Jim Crowley William Haggas (GB) |
| 2024 1:10.79 | Rage Of Bamby (IRE) 4yo 9-8 (1 of 14) 14/1 | Charles Bishop Eve Johnson Houghton (GB) |
| 2023 1:11.28 | Aberama Gold (GB) 6yo 8-12 (12 of 15) 7/1 | Mark Winn (3lbs) David O'Meara (GB) |
| 2022 1:10.01 | Gale Force Maya (GB) 6yo 9-12 (6 of 15) 9/2 | Connor Beasley Michael Dods (GB) |
| 2021 1:12.63 | Venturous (IRE) 8yo 9-5 (12 of 14) 33/1 | Connor Beasley David Barron (GB) |
| 2020 1:09.72 | Muscika (GB) 6yo 9-0 (14 of 12) 10/1 | Daniel Tudhope David O'Meara (GB) |
| 2019 1:14.10 | Dakota Gold (GB) 5yo 9-2 (9 of 15) 10/1 | Connor Beasley Michael Dods (GB) |
| 2018 1:11.42 | Flying Pursuit (GB) 5yo 8-13 (6 of 14) 9/1 | Nathan Evans Tim Easterby (GB) |
| 2017 1:11.48 | Flying Pursuit (GB) 4yo 8-7 (1 of 15) 12/1 | Rachel Richardson (3lbs) Tim Easterby (GB) |
| 2016 1:09.66 | Kimberella (GB) 6yo 9-8 (5 of 16) 9/2F | Franny Norton David Nicholls (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Sky Bet Dash have been based:
- GB: 20 winners with an additional 48 placings from 325 runners
- IRE: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 1 runner
Sky Bet Dash Trainer Statistics
There are multiple leading trainers in the Sky Bet Dash over the last 20 renewals, with Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey, David O'Meara, Michael Dods, and William Haggas having all won the race twice. Tim Easterby's winners have been with Flying Pursuit (2017 & 2018). Richard Fahey's winners have been with Wyatt Earp (2006) and Knot In Wood (2009). David O'Meara's winners have been with Muscika (2020) and Aberama Gold (2023). Michael Dods' winners have been with Dakota Gold (2019) and Gale Force Maya (2022). William Haggas's winners have been Muthmir (2014) and Elmonjed (2025). One trainer has not had the best of times in the Sky Bet Dash; Kevin Ryan has sent a total of 22 runners to the race without recording a win.
Here are some of the top Sky Bet Dash trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Easterby | 39-2-7 | -16.00 | -17.05 |
| Richard Fahey | 38-2-9 | -21.00 | -10.98 |
| David O'Meara | 22-2-6 | -3.00 | -0.86 |
| Michael Dods | 7-2-4 | +9.50 | +9.94 |
| William Haggas | 2-2-2 | +8.50 | +5.31 |
| David Barron | 11-1-2 | +23.00 | +13.63 |
| Jim Goldie | 9-1-1 | -1.00 | -3.62 |
| K R Burke | 5-1-2 | +8.00 | +5.25 |
| Michael Easterby | 5-1-1 | -1.00 | -2.12 |
| Charles Hills | 3-1-1 | +3.50 | +1.44 |
Sky Bet Dash Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Sky Bet Dash over the last 20 renewals is Connor Beasley, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Dakota Gold (2019), Venturous (2021) and Gale Force Maya (2022). There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Sky Bet Dash; David Allan has ridden 14 runners in the race without recording any wins.
Here are some of the top Sky Bet Dash jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Beasley | 6-3-3 | +44.50 | +26.69 |
| Daniel Tudhope | 9-1-2 | +2.00 | -0.12 |
| Franny Norton | 6-1-2 | -0.50 | -1.19 |
| Barry McHugh | 5-1-1 | +5.00 | +1.63 |
| Andrew Elliott | 4-1-1 | +9.00 | +4.50 |
| Royston Ffrench | 3-1-1 | +4.00 | +1.75 |
| James Doyle | 2-1-1 | +4.50 | +2.44 |
| Jim Crowley | 2-1-1 | +3.50 | +1.81 |
| Charles Bishop | 1-1-1 | +14.00 | +8.75 |
| Mark Winn | 1-1-1 | +7.00 | +4.38 |
2026 Sky Bet Dash Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 4, RR, 3, 10, 20, 1, 6, (1, 6), 1, 1, 1, 13, 2, (5, 10), 10, 3, 7, (2, 5), 13, 1
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (76%) - Achieved an RPR of 93+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (76%) - Achieved an RPR of 92+ (Going)
- 20 / 20 (79%) - No bigger than 20/1 (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Within the first 13 of the market
- 20 / 20 (82%) - No more than -15lbs (Vs Max Weight)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Achieved a TS of 70+ (Going)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Not BB/BR/GB/GR in colour
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Achieved an RPR of 96+ (Career)
- 19 / 20 (84%) - No bigger than 66/1 (Career)
- 19 / 20 (84%) - No bigger than 20/1 (Career Win)
- 18 / 20 (44%) - No bigger than 12/1
- 18 / 20 (73%) - Achieved a TS of 81+ (Last 5)
- 18 / 20 (77%) - Placed within last 4 starts
- 18 / 20 (77%) - No older than a 6yo
- 18 / 20 (79%) - No bigger than 10/1 (Last Win)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the York racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Sky Bet Dash. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Sky Bet Dash by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
2026 Sky Bet Dash Runners & Shortlist
The runners and the final trends shortlist for the 2026 renewal of the Sky Bet Dash will be added once the final declarations are confirmed, which are usually 48 hours before the race.
Sky Bet Dash Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +12.00, is when runners ran on Good To Firm ground on debut.
❌ The worst-performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 2 places in the past year; when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-64.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2025: Winner in 10 (5,3,4) [19 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 1 (3,11) [14 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 12 (3,15) [15 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 6 (9,15) [15 Runners]
- 2021: Winner in 12 (8,4) [14 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the Sky Bet Dash is Hamilton; there have been a total of 4 winners of this race who ran at Hamilton last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 17 winners from a total of 300 runners, while female runners have produced 3 winners from a total of 26 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Sky Bet Dash:
- Kyllachy (2 Wins)
- Pastoral Pursuits (2 Wins)
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Sky Bet Dash despite multiple attempts:
- Pivotal (0 Wins from 14 runners)
- Acclamation (0 Wins from 11 runners)
- Bahamian Bounty (0 Wins from 8 runners)
- Camacho (0 Wins from 8 runners)
- Dark Angel (0 Wins from 7 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Venturous in 2021, winning for David Barron at odds of 33/1 under the guidance of Connor Beasley. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 6 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Sky Bet Dash, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page.
Route to the Sky Bet Dash
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Sky Bet Dash. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Elmonjed Windsor - 2nd of 7 (7/4) | Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap |
| 2024 - Rage Of Bamby Bath - 13th of 13 (10/1) | Lansdown Stakes |
| 2023 - Aberama Gold Ayr - 5th of 16 (10/1) | Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap |
| 2022 - Gale Force Maya York - 3rd of 12 (12/1) | William Hill Summer Stakes |
| 2021 - Venturous Newcastle (AW) - 6th of 14 (12/1) | William Hill Gosforth Park Cup Handicap |
| 2020 - Muscika Ripon - 5th of 12 (5/2) | Armstrong Memorial Handicap |
| 2019 - Dakota Gold Newcastle (AW) - 5th of 13 (16/1) | Betfair Exchange Gosforth Park Cup Handicap |
| 2018 - Flying Pursuit Hamilton - 7th of 10 (12/1) | Scottish Stewards Cup |
| 2017 - Flying Pursuit Hamilton - 8th of 14 (12/1) | Scottish Stewards Cup |
| 2016 - Kimberella Chester - 2nd of 10 (4/1) | Technical Demolition Services Ltd Handicap |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Sky Bet Dash Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for Flat racing.
James Banting
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal races at York Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the York racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
Races in May (Dante Festival)
- Churchill Tyres Handicap
- Jorvik Stakes
- Minster Stakes
- Musidora Stakes
- Dante Stakes
- Hambleton Stakes
- Lindum York Handicap
- Middleton Stakes
- Westow Stakes
- Macmillan Charity Handicap
- Marygate Fillies Stakes
- Michael Seely Memorial Fillies Stakes
- Yorkshire Cup
Races in July
Races in August (Ebor Festival)
- Acomb Stakes
- Ebor Festival Stayers Heritage Handicap
- Great Voltigeur Stakes
- Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
- Juddmonte International Stakes
- Clipper Handicap
- Ebor Festival Fillies Heritage Handicap
- Galtres Stakes
- Harry's Half Million By Goffs
- Lowther Stakes
- Yorkshire Oaks
- Ebor Festival Mile Heritage Handicap
- Ebor Festival Sky Bet Heritage Handicap
- Gimcrack Stakes
- Lonsdale Cup
- Nunthorpe Stakes
- City of York Stakes
- Ebor Festival Finale Heritage Handicap
- Ebor Handicap
- Melrose Heritage Handicap
- Roses Stakes
- Strensall Stakes
