The overall numbers tell a story of quiet, consistent productivity. In the last twelve months he's sent out 43 winners from 526 runners — roughly 1 in every 12 — and across his career he's now reached 224 winners in total. That's not a flash in the pan. That's a yard that keeps ticking over while also peaking at the very highest level, which is a difficult balance to strike.
Look a little closer and a few patterns emerge. When the ground gets soft underfoot — after a bit of rain, conditions that sort out the horses who genuinely handle the wet — Dods wins 6 from 43 attempts, which works out at around 1 in every 7. That's a noticeably better return than his overall average, and worth knowing if you're watching one of his runners on a damp afternoon. Ripon is another interesting thread: 3 winners from just 8 runners there is a remarkable ratio, suggesting either a fondness for the track or a knack for placing horses where they can win.
His most reliable ally in the saddle is Connor Beasley. Seventeen wins from 187 rides together — about 1 in every 11 — makes them one of the more productive trainer-jockey combinations operating in the north. When Beasley takes the reins for Dods, there's a reasonable chance something is happening. Then there's Roaring Ralph, a horse that has delivered 6 wins from 40 races under Dods's care. Six wins from 40 might not sound extraordinary, but in a partnership that clearly keeps being tested at a high level, it speaks to a genuine working relationship between trainer and horse.
Eight top-level wins in four years. Most trainers retire without ever getting one. Whatever Dods is doing at his yard, it's clearly working.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 92 | 5 | 5.4% |
| Ayr | 62 | 9 | 14.5% |
| Thirsk | 52 | 3 | 5.8% |
| Southwell | 44 | 5 | 11.4% |
| Redcar | 39 | 0 | 0% |
| Hamilton Park | 32 | 2 | 6.2% |
| Beverley | 24 | 1 | 4.2% |
| Carlisle | 22 | 4 | 18.2% |
| Doncaster | 22 | 1 | 4.5% |
| Pontefract | 20 | 1 | 5% |
| Catterick Bridge | 19 | 2 | 10.5% |
| York | 18 | 1 | 5.6% |
| Haydock Park | 16 | 0 | 0% |
| Wolverhampton | 10 | 3 | 30% |
| Musselburgh | 9 | 1 | 11.1% |
| Ripon | 8 | 3 | 37.5% |
| Leicester | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Wetherby | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Kempton Park | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Nottingham | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Goodwood | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Ascot | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Lingfield Park | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Newmarket | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Newbury | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Windsor | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Leopardstown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Sandown Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 0 | 0% |