Trends preview for the Sky Bet Dash at York

The Sky Bet Dash is a relatively new race in the calendar but has quickly established itself as a race for progressive, and smart, sprinters.

La Cucaracha won the second renewal in 2005 and returned to York the following month to take glory in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes. Subsequent scorers may not have quite reached those heights but Tropics went on to be successful in Group race company as did 2014 winner Muthmir but both were surpassed by Goldream, beaten by Muthmir, who went on to land the King's Stand Stakes and the Abbaye in 2015.

He was sent off at 12/1 on the Knavesmire as favourite Muthmir obliged in receipt of 3lbs to become the third winning jolly in four years and two more have obliged since in the six furlong Dash.

They include Kimberella who became the first six-year-old to taste success in the last decade and another of his generation, Orion's Bow, heads the betting. Formerly with Kimberella's late handler David Nicholls, last year's Stewards' Cup second has gradually found his form for his new, in-form stable over five furlongs, a trip he has tackled on only four occasions, three of which have come this season.

He should appreciate being stepped back up in trip and Hoof It did win both races in 2011 but Orion's Bow lacks course form at York unlike rapidly progresive stablemate Golden Apollo who gave the impression that he still had more to offer at Newmarket despite only finishing fourth.

The form of that race has already been given a boost by Love Dreams, nominated as an eyecatcher on these pages, winning easily next time. His win at York the time before is also working out well with the two horses that chased him home both winning their next starts and he remains an interesting proposition.

Ultimate Avenue looked desperately unlucky in finishing third in the same Newmarket race and is only 3lbs higher but this flatter track might not be ideal for a horse that was previously campaigned over seven furlongs and a mile, besides which he hasn't been missed in the market.

David O'Meara, like Easterby, has a strong hand in the five-day entries with his five entries including top-weight and Wokingham winner Out Do. EDWARD LEWIS ran well in sixth at Royal Ascot and could benefit from being stepped back up in trip after failing to match that run last time (wasn't well drawn) but the Yorkshire handler also saddles a couple of interesting older horses.

Watchable hasn't won a race since 2014 but has been given a chance by the handicapper and recent outings have been more encouraging. It's a similar story with Move In Time who is almost a stone lower than at this time last year and who finished strongly at the Knavesmire last time.

Al Qahwa narrowly beat Muntadab over course and distance in May but has struggled in two starts since whereas the runner-up has continued to run consistently well despite enjoying little fortune. 

This race, though, does tend to go to a younger, progressive horse from the front of the market more often than not and there's enough early money for Edward Lewis to suggest that he could be the one to side with.

Like Orion's Bow, he started his career with John Gosden with both doing their early racing over further than the trips they have come to excel at. Edward Lewis never raced below six furlongs for the Newmarket handler but six of his seven starts for O'Meara have come over five.

He's risen 12lbs in the handicap in that time, winning twice but his run at Royal Ascot suggests that there could be better still to come over six furlongs and this strong traveller may well be suited by the demands of York and he's marginally preferred to Golden Apollo.

* Winners have been aged 3 (two), 4 (four), five (two), six and seven.

* Winners have carried between 8-12 and 9-10 with two scoring off top-weight.

* Winners have been rated between 91 and 105.

* Winners have been returned between 3/1 and 12/1 with five favourites successful.

* Six winners finished in the first four on their preceding start with one successful.

* Seven winners had won a race during the current season.

* Five winners had either won or been placed on the course.

* All the winners had either won or been placed in a race classified as 2 or above.

* Five winners ran at the course's meeting in May.