El pensador
In November 1985 at Ayr, The Thinker won the Joan Mackay Handicap Race against eight other horses at 14-1 odds. Running in the W.L. 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. He did not finish the Townton Handicap Chase at Wetherby later in December 1985 having been pulled up during the race. In January 1986, he was unplaced for the Stokesley Handicap Chase at Catterick. In February 1986, The Thinker won the Stanwix Handicap Chase in Carlisle defeating the Grand National placer Mr. Snugfit. He was unplaced in the March 1987 running of the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham. In April 1986, The Thinker recorded his first major win when he won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter Racecourse in snowy conditions. He won the County of Ayr Handicap Chase in May. He was unplaced in the November 1986 Charlie Hall Memorial Wetherby Pattern Chase and the November 1986 Joan Mackay Handicap Chase at Ayr. On 27 December 1986, The Thinker won the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby. He was unplaced in the January 1987 Peter Marsh Challenge. The Thinker was entered in the 1987 Grand National but was withdrawn shortly before the start due to Stephenson's concerns about the muddy course conditions and the results of a training gallop the morning of the race.