Commanche Falls

The puzzle is what has happened since. Commanche Falls has not won in its last six races — a barren spell stretching back beyond those York and Newbury triumphs to early September 2023, now more than two years old. When it does compete, it finishes second or third more often than not; 17 places from 42 races means the horse shows up and runs a respectable race, but the wins have dried up completely. At Class 2 level, where it typically races, Commanche Falls has managed just one win from 23 attempts, a 4% win rate that underscores how tough that class of racing can be.

Under trainer Michael Dods at Piercebridge in County Durham, Commanche Falls has been partnered most often by Connor Beasley, and the pair have won four times from 34 races together — a 12% win rate together, fractionally better than the horse's overall record. The horse was last active just a day ago, suggesting it remains very much in work. Whether Commanche Falls can rediscover the form that brought those Class 1 victories remains to be seen, but at nine years old and without a win in 35 months, the window for another breakthrough is narrowing.