DODS TARGETING SUNDAY SUCCESS IN BETGOODWIN GARROWBY STAKES

COMMANACHE FALLS PART OF TRAINER’S THREE-HORSE TEAM AT YORK

MICHAEL DODS is aiming Commanche Falls at this Sunday’s BETGOODWIN Garrowby Stakes, 12 months after the County Durham-based trainer landed the same Listed race at York, with Gale Force Maya.

Commanche Falls is one of a nine-strong field contesting the six-furlong sprint, worth £70,000.

The tough six-year-old sprinter will have to carry a 5lb penalty as a result of a Group 3 victory in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July.

Among his eight rivals on the Knavesmire will be the Charlie Appleby-trained Al Suhail, who is rated 115 – 3lb higher than Commanche Falls.

Previous AL Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack winner, Emaraaty Ana, rated 111, looks another key player to whom Commanche Falls will have to give weight to.

But Dods’ representative looks likely to be there or thereabouts having been a model of consistency through the summer months.

Since being beaten by a head in a Group 3 at Newmarket in late April, Commanche Falls has notched up two stakes victories and not been out of the first four in five starts.

His most recent outing was on August 12 in a Group 3 at The Curragh where he ran fourth of 11.

Dods, who trains near Darlington, said: “He’s in good form, but obviously he has got his penalty, which makes it very difficult. There are a couple of horses there he’s wrong with at the weights. He’s well, but the penalty he’s got for winning at Newbury will make life difficult.”

Two others from Dods’ stables at Denton Hall Farm will also be in action at York. Taygar, who won on her debut at Beverley and finished third when last seen in late May at Redcar, contests the York Edge Windows Nursery. Tatterstall will line up in the Brian Taylor 50 Not Out Apprentice Handicap.

Dods said: “The two-year-old in the nursery had a slight setback. Hopefully, she runs okay. There’s not a lot of runners – only seven – but it’s a tough race.

“We have Tatterstall in the apprentice race. He likes a quick five (furlongs), but it looks very competitive – I think there’s 18 runners.

“All three of our runners should run well, hopefully. But it’s not easy at York.”   

The card is preceded by a Pony Race Series contest at 12.25pm. This will be followed by seven races, the first of which is the IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish EBF Novices’.