Ride The Thunder

The one win came at Nottingham on 4 June 2025, and that remains the sole career victory to date — now 14 months ago and six races without a win since. That said, the recent form figures of 3-6-3-2-4-4 are worth a closer look. Three thirds and a second in that run tells you this horse is regularly finishing in the money. The second place is particularly interesting — that is a horse that nearly got there. The challenge now is converting all that consistency into a win.

When it comes to Class 2 races — some of the better races in the British calendar — Ride The Thunder has drawn a blank in all three attempts, losing all three. That is not unusual; stepping up in class is tough, and plenty of horses find their ceiling there. But it does suggest the sweet spot might be at a slightly less demanding level, where that placing record could more easily translate into a win.

Jockey Ray Dawson has been the regular partner, riding in 5 of those 10 races and winning 1 — a 20% win rate together, which is actually better than the horse's overall record. That is 1 win from every 5 rides together, a meaningful relationship between horse and rider that the team will be keen to build on.

Behind the scenes, this horse is trained by Roger Varian, one of Newmarket's most respected yards, and a team currently firing on all cylinders with 87 winners already this season. That level of operation knows how to place a horse to its best advantage, and with Ride The Thunder still active — racing just yesterday — there is clearly belief that another winning moment is not far away. The form says it is close. Whether Nottingham lightning strikes twice remains to be seen.