Gary Carson
Thunderbear grinds out victory for Davison
Thunderbear and Luke McAteer (left) holds off Midnight Toker
© Photo Healy Racing
Thunderbear proved a game winner of the Kilminfoyle House Stud Nursery at Fairyhouse as he held on in a photo finish to the six-furlong contest.
Luke McAteer bounced out and made the running on the son of Kodi Bear and had a willing partner in the closing stages.
The Jack Davison-trained colt found plenty when pressed by Midnight Toker inside the final furlong to record a head victory at odds of 5/2.
“He's a nice horse, he showed an awful lot of ability in the spring and it just took him a while to get it together for various reasons,” said Davison.
“We finally got his trip right and the conditions, he just didn't enjoy the all-weather last week. He likes that nice ground and is a turf horse, he'll be a nice three-year-old.
“The visor is just for focus and you see there he dropped his head when he needed so he's a genuine horse.
“He's been dead reliable but it's all about getting the winning bracket, he did that today and we're delighted.”