Hector Christie Memorial Trophy at Catterick in December 1985 and ridden by Kevin Jones, The Thinker was an 11-8 favourite and "appeared to have the race sewn up" when he was defeated by a neck by a late challenge from Hazy Glen.

The Thinker was entered in the 1987 Grand National but was withdrawn shortly before the start due to Stephenson's concerns about the muddy course conditions and the results of a training gallop the morning of the race.

An hour before the race, snow fell heavily on the course rendering the conditions virtually unraceable and the runners for the Gold Cup, having made their way to the start, were recalled to the paddock.

Four fences from the finish, Cybrandian led from Door Latch, but The Thinker had made steady progress into third ahead of Forgive 'n' Forget, Wayward Lad and Combs Ditch.

The Thinker maintained his position over the last two fences before tracking to the right on the run-in and producing a strong late run to overtake Cybrandian in the last hundred yards and win by one and a half lengths.

[19] In the 1988/9 season, The Thinker won a minor race at Kelso Racecourse and then took the listed Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park, taking the lead at the second last and winning easily by twelve lengths from Kissane.

Ridden by Simon Sherwood, he lost his position on the second circuit but stayed on strongly in the closing stages and finished third of the forty runners behind Little Polveir and West Tip.

The Thinker was being prepared for a run in the 1991 Grand National when he broke his left hind leg[22] when cantering at Aintree two days before the race and was euthanised at the age of thirteen.