Andrew Thornton is a retired

National Hunt In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

Early life

He was born on 28 October 1972 in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

and schooled at

Barnard Castle School Barnard Castle School (colloquially Barney School or locally the County School) is a co-educational Independent school (United Kingdom), independent day and boarding school in the market town of Barnard Castle, County Durham, in the North East Engl ...

County Durham County Durham ( ), officially simply Durham,UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. is a ceremonial county in North East England.North East Assembly �About North East E ...

. He is not related to another English jockey, Robert Thornton.

Riding career

He rode mainly for Caroline Bailey and Seamus Mullins, he was stable jockey for Robert Alner for many years as well as riding for plenty of other trainers over the years. Thornton was one of the very few National Hunt jockeys who wore contact lenses while riding and it is for this reason that he acquired the nicknames "Lensio" and "Blindman". Thornton rode his 1000th winner on Kentford Myth at

Wincanton Wincanton ( or ) is a small town and electoral ward in South Somerset, southwest England. The town lies off the A303 road, a main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry. The town and electoral ward has a populati ...

on 26 December 2016. Despite having to endure many setbacks and injuries throughout his career, by 2012 Thornton was widely regarded as one of the best jumps jockeys around. He was also very highly respected among his weighing room colleagues. Because Thornton was taller than the average jump jockey, he was forced to ride very low in the stirrups. It was not always attractive to look at but it rarely failed to get the job done. The benefits of his riding style were also highlighted by the record Thornton had in staying handicap chases and staying handicap hurdle races. He was able to push along from a mile out and galvanise the horse. His strength was seen in many exciting finishes when he looked beaten turning for home. On 6 June 2018, Thornton retired from racing. Since retirement, Thornton has worked for Sky Sports Racing amongst others. The highlight of his broadcasting career coming on the 21st January 2022 when he made his first appearance on the channel’s flagship show, Get In. Presented by regular host Jason (Shark) Weaver and Mike Cattermole. The 'Catt' was deputising for Luke Harvey (The Toxic Turtle). Harvey was late for his own show, which was deemed a new low for the 'marmite' presenter. Thornton was asked about editing his own Wikipedia page and his questionable moustache in June 2009.

Notable horses

Thornton rode many horses including

Cool Dawn Cool Dawn (11 May 1988 – 25 March 2018) was a National Hunt chaser of the 1990s who went from winning minor Point-to-Point races to winning the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Blue Riband of National Hunt Racing. Racing career Early care ...

, Gingembre and

See More Business See More Business (26 April 1990 – 24 July 2014) was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. Background See More Business ...

to victory in many a big race as well as 8-time winner French Holly who won two Grade 1s and only just failed to win the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

in 1999 when beaten by

Istabraq Istabraq (born 23 May 1992) is a retired Ireland, Irish Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who was most famous for his Hurdling (horse race), hurdling. He won the Champion Hurdle on three occasions. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned b ...

. His death in a schooling accident in the Winter of 1999 was a major disappointment to Thornton.

Achievements and awards

*1996

Lester Award __NOTOC__ A Lester Award is one of a range of awards given to jockeys at an annual ceremony in Great Britain. The awards are named in honour of Lester Piggott, an eleven-time British flat racing Champion Jockey who won thirty British Classic Races ...

for special recognition *1997 Lester Award for special recognition *2003 Lester Award for jump ride of the year aboard Kingscliff *2007 Lester Award for jump ride of the year aboard Miko De beauchene He rode major winners for Robert Alner, Seamus Mullins, Evan Williams, Ian Williams, Jamie Poulton, Paul Nicholls, Mary Reveley, John Spearing, Lavina Taylor, Ferdy Murphy and TA Forster.

Cheltenham Festival winners

*1996

William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase The Festival Trophy is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 mil ...

- Maamur *1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle - French Holly *1998

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

Grade 1 winners

*1997

King George VI Chase The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of ...

*1998

Tolworth Hurdle The Tolworth Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mil ...

- French Holly *1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle - French Holly *1998

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

*1998

Christmas Hurdle The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres ...

- French Holly *2003

Finale Juvenile Hurdle The Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles (2 miles and 11 yards, ...

- Sunray

Other notable winners

*1998

Rendlesham Hurdle The Rendlesham Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ a furlong ...

- Buckhouse Boy *1998

Racing Post Chase The Coral Trophy is a Grade 3 Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles (), an ...

- Super Tactics *2000

National Spirit Hurdle The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 3 ...

- Male-Ana-Moo *2001

- Merry Masquerade *2001

Scottish Grand National The Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of about 4 miles (3 ...

- Gingembre *2002

Hennessy Gold Cup /Ladbrokes Trophy The Coral Gold Cup is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run ...

- Gingembre *2005

Reynoldstown Novices' Chase The Reynoldstown Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles (2 mile ...

- Distant Thunder *2006

Cotswold Chase The Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles ...

- See You Sometime *2007

- Simon *2007

Welsh National The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about ...

- Miko De Beauchene *2008 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup - Miko De Beauchene

References

External links

BBC profile

Andrew Thornton official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Andrew 1972 births English jockeys Lester Award winners Living people People educated at Barnard Castle School Sportspeople from County Durham

Early life

Riding career

Notable horses

Achievements and awards

Cheltenham Festival winners

Grade 1 winners

Other notable winners

See also

References

External links