Charging Thunder

The career highlights are real. His first win came at Chelmsford in September 2021, and he followed it up with a Class 2 victory at Pontefract in June 2022 — a result that suggested he could compete with quality horses on a big day. William Buick, one of the finest jockeys in the country, once described him toughing it out over a mile and six furlongs at Newmarket, which paints a picture of a horse with genuine grit. Trainer James Owen, who operates out of Newmarket and has sent out an impressive 204 winners this season alone, has spoken about Charging Thunder having the bloodlines to potentially step into Pattern company — the very best races — if he ever fully matures mentally.

Where Charging Thunder genuinely shines is on normal ground. In nine races on standard conditions, he has won three times — 1 in every 3 — which is a significantly better rate than his overall record and suggests the surface really does matter for him. At Class 2 level specifically, however, it has been harder work: just 1 win from 14 races, which is roughly 1 in every 14. That gap tells you he is capable of rising to the occasion, but he does not do it every week.

His most recent six races show a horse that has gone quiet — finishing fourth, seventh, second, fifth, seventh, and sixth — and he has not won since Wolverhampton in July last year. Yet he raced just yesterday and is still very much active, which counts for something. James Owen has hinted at a potential switch to hurdling at some point but has left the door open on the flat, particularly after a promising run at Yarmouth. At eight, with 49 races under his belt, Charging Thunder is a seasoned professional who has earned his place at the table.