Widely respected as one of the finest racetracks in Britain, the Knavesmire venue of York hosts several high-class meetings throughout the season. This week, the first of those cracking features rolls into town, with the 2025 edition of the three-day Dante Festival.
Kicking off on Wednesday 14th of May, and concluding on Friday 16th, 21 contests make up the Dante Festival, including eight at Listed level or above. With trips ranging from 5f to 1m6f, events for 2yos, 3yos and runners aged four and older, handicaps, novice events, maidens, and more, the variety matches the quality on offer.
Like many racing fans, we will settle down to take in this midweek treat, which is lit up by the titular Dante Stakes, which regularly serves as a key Derby trial, the Musidora Stakes for the fillies, and the Yorkshire Cup for the stamina-laden stars.
21 races means 21 winners to find. Here, we turn to the trends for assistance. Looking back at the ten editions of the meeting between 2015 and 2024, we highlight the leading trainers, jockeys, and sires at this outstanding fixture and pick out our best trend-based punts for 2025.
Top Trainers
No Aidan O’Brien or Charlie Appleby on our list of leading trainers, which makes a change for a UK meeting. With that duo tending to send a small squad to the Knavesmire, the Gosden team has made hay with an impressive 21 wins over the last ten years. Notably, all 21 of those wins came in events over 7f or further, 15 were at Listed level or above, and 13 were in 3yo only events.
With Mark Johnston having passed the reins to his son Charlie, William Haggas is the next active trainer on our list. Eight of Haggas’s nine wins came at 7f+.
Local trainer Richard Fahey has also fared well. All eight of his wins were over 5f-7f, including three in 5f juvenile sprints. Only two of eight were at Listed level, with no Group wins.
Six of Tim Easterby’s seven wins were in handicap events for runners aged four and older.
Six of Roger Varian’s seven wins came over 1m+.
Five of Kevin Ryan’s seven wins were over 5f-7f
Six of David O’Meara’s seven wins came over 5f-6f, and six of seven were in handicap events.
Six of Andrew Balding’s seven wins came over 1m+, and five of seven were at Listed level or above.
Top Jockeys
A regular partner in success with the Gosdens over the years, Frankie Dettori tops the jockeys' table but is, of course, now based in the USA.
Eleven of William Buick’s 12 wins came at 1m+.
All 12 of Daniel Tudhope’s wins came over 5f-7f, including nine at the minimum trip, five were in 2yo events, and five were in 3yo-only contests.
Eleven of Andrea Atzeni’s 12 wins were at 1m+.
Eight of Oisin Murphy’s 11 wins came at Listed level or above.
Eight of James Doyle’s 10 wins were over 1m+
Six of Tom Marquand’s nine wins came in handicaps, and six came in 4yo+ events.
Six of Ryan Moore’s nine wins came over 1m2f+ and six were in 3yo only events.
Sires To Note
All eight of Invincible Spirit’s wins were over 5f-1m.
All eight of Dubawi’s were over 7f+.
Six of Dark Angel’s seven wins were over 5f-6f, and five were at Listed level or above.
All six of Sea The Stars' wins were at 1m2f+, with five of six in 4yo+ events.
All five of Mastercraftsman’s wins were at 1m2f+, with four of five in 4yo+ events.
All five Exceed And Excel's wins were over 5f-1m.
Lucky Seven to Back for Trends Fans
When looking through the entries for the 2025 edition of the meeting, only two runners tick the trainer, jockey, and sire boxes.
- Sea Force (Darley EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
- See The Fire (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes)
- Serenity Prayer (Tattersalls Musidora Stakes)
The following earn a tick in the trainer and jockey column.
- Bermuda Longtail (Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes)
- Bowmark (Darley EBF ‘Confinded’ Novice Stakes)
- Cello (Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap)
- Consecrated (Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes)
- Crown Of Oaks (Darley EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
- Elements Of Fire (Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap)
- Epic Poet (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Estrange (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes)
- Gallant (Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap)
- Inisherin (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes)
- Kalpana (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes)
- Merchant (Sky Bet Handicap)
- Noble Horizon (Darley EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
- Royal Playwright (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes)
- Solana Rose (Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes)
- Stressfree (Knights Solicitors Handicap)
- Term Of Endearment (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Tropical Storm (British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes)
- Tuscan Star (Sky Bet Handicap)
The following are shortlisted due to their trainer and sire:
- Creatif (Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap)
- Flora Of Bermuda (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes)
- French Duke (Knights Solicitors Handicap)
- Mon Na Slieve (Lindum York Handicap)
- Sisyphean (Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap)
- Sweet William (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Utmost Respect (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
And the following earn a tick in the jockey and sire box.
- Alpine Trail (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes)
- Brave Empire (Churchill Tyres Handicap)
- Don Simon (Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap)
- Night Raider (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes)
- Rebel’ Romance (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Royal Zabeel (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes)
- Salamanca (Knights Solicitors Handicap)
- Tremorgio (Sky Bet Handicap)
That makes a total of 40 horses that qualify on at least two out of three counts – a few too many to be backing. From that list of 40, the following strike us as racing in the type of contest in which their trainer/jockey/sire tends to perform well at this meeting:
- See The Fire (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes)
- Serenity Prayer (Tattersalls Musidora Stakes)
- Bermuda Longtail (Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes)
- Bowmark (Darley EBF ‘Confinded’ Novice Stakes)
- Kalpana (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes)
- Royal Playwright (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes)
- French Duke (Knights Solicitors Handicap)
- Mon Na Slieve (Lindum York Handicap)
- Sweet William (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Utmost Respect (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
- Alpine Trail (Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes)
- Night Raider (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes)
- Rebel’ Romance (Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes)
- Salamanca (Knights Solicitors Handicap)
- Tremorgio (Sky Bet Handicap)
In an effort to trim things down further, we will avoid the races with more than one qualifier, leaving us with the following seven selections for the 2025 Dante Festival.
Recommended Bet: Night Raider to win @ 11/4 with Betfred (Wednesday 3:13)
Recommended Bet: Serenity Prayer to win @ 11/4 with Betfred (Wednesday 3:45)
Recommended Bet: Utmost Respect to win @ Best Morning Price (Wednesday 4:55)
Recommended Bet: Mon Na Slieve each way @ 20/1 Best Morning Price (Thursday 2:10)
Recommended Bet: Tremorgio each way @ Best Morning Price (Thursday 5:25)
Recommended Bet: Bermuda Longtail each way @ 10/1 with BoyleSports (Friday 3:13)
Recommended Bet: Bowmark to win @ Best Morning Price (Friday 4:55)
Our Top UK Betting Sites for the 2025 Dante Festival:
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Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
