Andrew Thornton is a retired

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), 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 ...

Early life

He was born on 28 October 1972 in

Cleveland, Yorkshire Cleveland is a land of hills and dales from the River Tees to Vale of Pickering, England. The name means "cliff-land". The area corresponds to the former Langbaurgh Wapentake. The North York Moors national park, established in 1952, covers ...

and schooled at

Barnard Castle School Barnard Castle School (colloquially Barney School or locally the County School) is a co-educational private day and boarding school in the market town of Barnard Castle, County Durham, in the North East of England. It is a member of The Head ...

County Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

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 town and electoral ward in Somerset, southwest England. The town lies off the A303 road, a main route between London and South West England, and has some light industry. In the 2021 census the civil parish had a populatio ...

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).

Notable horses

Thornton rode many horses including Cool Dawn, Gingembre and 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 racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

in 1999 when beaten by

Istabraq Istabraq (23 May 1992 – 25 July 2024) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He won the Champion Hurdle on three consecutive occasions. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by John Patrick McManus. Joc ...

. French Holly’s death in a schooling accident in the Winter of 1999 was a major disappointment to Thornton.

Achievements and awards

*1996

Lester Award 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 from 1954 ...

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 - 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 furlon ...

- Cool Dawn

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 dis ...

- See More Business *1998 Tolworth Hurdle - 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 furlon ...

- Cool Dawn *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 m ...

- French Holly *2003 Finale Juvenile Hurdle - Sunray

Other notable winners

*1998 Rendlesham Hurdle - Buckhouse Boy *1998 Racing Post Chase - Super Tactics *2000 National Spirit Hurdle - Male-Ana-Moo *2001 Rendlesham Hurdle - Merry Masquerade *2001

Scottish Grand National The Scottish Grand National is a Premier Handicap 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 ab ...

- Gingembre *2002 Hennessy Gold Cup - Gingembre *2005 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase - Distant Thunder *2006

Cotswold Chase The Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt racing, National Hunt steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged five years or older. It is r ...

- See You Sometime *2007 Racing Post Chase - 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 ...

- 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