Commanche Falls should get his chance to be the Red Rum of sprint handicappers

Somewhere there is a punter who took 50-1 about Commanche Falls for the Wokingham, when he reared, forced his stall open and dropped the jockey, but left him alone on Saturday when the five-year-old redeemed himself at half those odds in the Stewards' Cup. What a thorough professional he looked at Goodwood, sustaining his stride length as his rivals tired and rallying when he sensed Tabdeed drawing alongside.

Commanche Falls became the first horse since Sky Diver in the 1960s to win two Stewards' Cups, surprising given how many tough handicappers, familiar as old friends, have turned up in the race year after year over the decades. He's young enough to have a shot at becoming the Red Rum of the Stewards' Cup, the first to win it three times.

Michael Dods is evidently mustard at keeping top sprinters on top of their game. He also got Mecca's Angel to win consecutive Nunthorpes and Mabs Cross might have landed back to back Abbayes if she had had a better draw the second time. Even now, Commanche Falls has not yet matched the prize-money accumulated by his Dods-trained older sibling Dakota Gold, the winner of 14 races.