Thunder Run

The headline number is this: 2 wins from 4 races at York, which is a 50% win rate at a track that attracts some of the best horses in Britain. That is not luck — that is a course specialist. Both York wins have come at the top level of British racing, Class 2 events, and Burke believes there is more to come. After Thunder Run's most recent win at York in May 2025, the trainer spoke openly about targeting a Listed or Group race — the tier above Class 2, where the very best horses compete. That is not a trainer getting carried away. Burke has sent out 140 winners this season alone, so he knows what a decent horse looks like.

What makes Thunder Run fascinating is how raw he still is. His May win at York came after he bolted out of the gates and effectively led from the front — the exact opposite of what Burke had planned. The trainer had told jockey Clifford Lee not to make the running under any circumstances. Within half a furlong, Thunder Run had other ideas. He stayed in front for so long that he was running on fumes in the final 100 yards, winning despite himself. Burke admitted it nearly gave him a heart attack. The fact that he won doing everything wrong is either a sign of serious natural ability, or a horse that will be very hard to predict until he learns to settle.

His recent form tells a slightly mixed story — a second place last time out is encouraging, but results of 22nd and 7th before that show he is not consistent at his best every time. At 7 furlongs to a mile, however, he wins 2 from 4 races, and Burke is convinced the step up in trip has unlocked something. The trainer's view is straightforward: once Thunder Run learns to race with his head rather than just his legs, a Group race is not a dream — it is the plan. For a horse still described as very raw, that is a compelling thought.