Custers Mistake

What makes him worth watching now is that he seems to have found his feet in the last few months. Two wins from his last six races is a significant improvement on his overall record, and his most recent outing just a day ago shows he is still competitive at his age. His last victory came at Wexford in August 2025, which means he has managed to get his head in front again after a long dry spell—a real achievement for a horse who has been racing for years without establishing himself as a consistent winner.

The key to understanding Custers Mistake is ground conditions. On normal ground, he has won 2 of his 8 races—a 25% win rate—which is easily his best surface. That is four times better than his overall record, and it suggests there is a genuine pattern here, not just luck. He is the type of horse that needs firm, standard conditions underfoot to show his best form. When the ground softens or becomes firm and fast, he tends to struggle, which limits where and when he can realistically compete.

At nine years old and with only two wins under his belt, Custers Mistake will never be fashionable. But his recent form and his clear preference for normal ground conditions give his the yard something concrete to work with. He is still winning races, still trying hard, and still finding the winner's enclosure often enough to justify his place in training. That is more than many horses manage.