'It's all about winners - and we're lucky to have a very strong team this year'

The Denton Hall Farm team of Michael Dods is enjoying yet another successful campaign, with the Stewards’ Cup victory of Commanche Falls the highlight of the season so far.

Dods is known for his prowess with top sprinters like Mecca’s Angel and Mabs Cross and he has unearthed more gems this term to continue his run of big race successes. He says: “We’re lucky as we have a very strong team this year as the results show. I must admit I have been surprised at how much Commanche Falls has improved this season [21lb officially] and hopefully we can squeeze out a bit more. But as a trainer it is rewarding to have the strong overall quality this year.

“It is all about winners and I pride myself in quickly informing owners if their horses are not up to what we and they want and move them on.”

He is also very keen on the prospects of Brunch, Blackrod and Pendleton. “These three are lovely horses. Pendleton had to have a year off, so to get him back in the winner’s enclosure gave me particular satisfaction and I think he can climb further up the ranks, if we can keep him in one piece.”

The juvenile crop also looks a cut above the norm as he continues to build for the future. “We have 85 horses, which is what we usually have. I really don’t want any more than that as we can give them each the attention they deserve.”

Dods has already surpassed last year’s prize-money haul and is well on course for his best season since 2017 when sending out 62 winners. He says: “We have 36 on the board already and I would like to think we will pass the 50, but as long as we get the best out of every horse then I know we have done our job.”

Older horses

Brunch
4 b g Cable Bay – Touching
He has improved year on year and there is more to come. This season he did well when runner-up in the Lincoln followed by a second in a strong handicap at York’s Dante meeting. Last time out he won a Listed race under a fine ride from William Buick. He is a difficult horse to assess as he is so game and tough but I feel that if he gets a touch of juice in the ground we could see him step up again. I have a couple of Group 3s at Salisbury and York in mind for him and we will go to one of them if he gets his ground. My preference would be for York as he always runs well there, but we will discuss it with his owner first. Also I think he could be even better over an extra furlong in time.

Brunch hasn't stopped improving this year and there is more to comeCredit: John Grossick

Byron’s Choice
6 b g Poet’s Voice – Byrony
He has won six times in his career but I feel that the handicapper may have him at the top of his mark now on 95. He is a horse who has to come off a very fast-run race and that is why he has done well on turning tracks like Beverley and Catterick. He is another who would not want an extreme of going, but the key is he has to run in a truly run race, the quicker the better.

Commanche Falls
4 br g Lethal Force – Joyeaux
This half-brother to Dakota Gold has never stopped surprising us as he has improved leaps and bounds this season. He needed his run first time out at Ayr yet still won and added to that at Ripon in June. I subsequently ran him at Hamilton to see if he could handle the undulations, which he did, and that told us he would be effective at Goodwood. Despite being 6lb higher again he put up a lifetime best performance when winning the Stewards’ Cup, which was a great thrill for everyone concerned. He has come out of the race well and has been spending a few hours each day out in the fields. Looking ahead I would like to go for the Ayr Gold Cup and in an ideal world would have a run before that, but I do not want to pick up a penalty as he is going to have enough weight as it is to shoulder. We will just have to sit tight and go there fresh from Goodwood. I am not too concerned as he is a horse who keeps himself fit. He is another who it is difficult to work out as he is so laid back at home and we do not gallop him very much, in fact he usually just canters, but like all good horses he comes alive on the track.

Dakota Gold
7 b g Equiano – Joyeaux
This half-brother to Commanche Falls is a very talented horse who never knows how to run a poor race. He has won 13 times already, including five at Listed level as well as the Group 3 Bengough Stakes. Last year he had a fantastic autumn winning three on the bounce at York, Nottingham and Doncaster. Earlier this year he threw a splint, so he did not make his reappearance until York last month when needing the run. His subsequent effort at Chester was something of a disaster as he simply could not handle the track. As for his next run we are looking at the Nunthorpe next week but he would need the ground to be on the soft side to bring out the best in him. If it were heavy, which is a little unlikely, then some of those speedsters would hate it and he would have an each-way shout. After that we will look to a similar Group 3/Listed route he took last year.