Thunderbear

What makes Thunderbear interesting is that he has proved capable at the highest level. On 23 September 2023, he won a Class 1 race at Newbury, one of the top tracks in Britain and a serious test. That victory marked the peak of his career so far and proved he belongs in the company of genuinely good horses. Since then, however, he has struggled. He has raced four times at Class 2 level — the next tier down — and has not won once, suggesting the step up in quality has caught him out or his winning form has simply deserted him.

Stephen Thorne's Rush yard in County Dublin sends out winners regularly, and Thunderbear is typically ridden by Ronan Whelan, though the partnership has produced only one win from ten races together. That suggests the pairing has not clicked consistently. At six years old, Thunderbear is at an age where racehorses are in their prime, yet he appears to be a horse whose best days may be behind him — a genuine Class 1 winner reduced to chasing races he cannot quite win. He remains active and racing, but the year without a victory tells the real story: Thunderbear is searching hard to find his way back.