diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/003_add_superseded.py b/backend/alembic/versions/003_add_superseded.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e047cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/003_add_superseded.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+"""Add superseded column to downloads
+
+Revision ID: 003
+Revises: 002
+Create Date: 2026-03-18
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+revision: str = '003'
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = '002'
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # Add superseded column with default False
+    op.add_column(
+        'downloads',
+        sa.Column('superseded', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default='false')
+    )
+
+    # Backfill: mark FAILED downloads as superseded where a later COMPLETED
+    # download exists for the same source. REQUIRED — without this, all
+    # previously-superseded failures reappear in the dashboard immediately.
+    op.execute("""
+        UPDATE downloads d
+        SET superseded = TRUE
+        WHERE d.status = 'failed'
+          AND EXISTS (
+            SELECT 1 FROM downloads d2
+            WHERE d2.source_id = d.source_id
+              AND d2.status = 'completed'
+              AND d2.created_at > d.created_at
+          )
+    """)
+
+    # Partial index covering the dominant query pattern: status + superseded = FALSE.
+    # A single boolean column index would be ignored in favour of status indexes;
+    # this form matches the WHERE clauses at all three affected query sites.
+    op.create_index(
+        'idx_downloads_not_superseded',
+        'downloads',
+        ['status'],
+        postgresql_where=sa.text('superseded = FALSE')
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_index('idx_downloads_not_superseded', table_name='downloads')
+    op.drop_column('downloads', 'superseded')