Robert Thornton (jockey)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Choc" Thornton (born 14 July 1978 in Darlington) is an English
National Hunt
jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King
.
Robert "Chocolate" Thornton (known as Choc) is one of the United Kingdom's leading National Hunt jockeys. After growing up riding hunters with his father (a noted professional Huntsman) he started working for master trainer David Nicholson
. He started riding for 'the Duke' as an amateur and after immediate success became an apprentice riding 7 1 winners during his first season in the sport. Having started as an amateur attached to David Nicholson's yard at Jackdaws Castle, near Stow-on-the Wold, in 1997, he won the Conditional Jockey's title the following year.
Since making his professional debut, Thornton’s performance has been consistent, if unspectacular, and he has consistently featured in the top 10 of the British Jumps Jockey Championship. Thornton’s most successful season to date was the 2007/2008-season, during which he broke the 100-winner barrier for the first time, by winning 105 of his 597 races.
Robert Thornton shies away from the spotlight most notably and correctly he will not talk to the television cameras until he has spoken to his owners and trainer.
Now, having joined Alan King, "Choc" has been the leading English jockey in 2005 and 2006 in a profession dominated by the Irish.
Robert Thornton’s greatest achievements are all linked to the Cheltenham Festival
, at which the English jockey has shown a knack for riding winners in major hurdles races. He has the wonderful ability of keeping most of his rides in the race and putting them in a position to win if they are good enough. Thornton won his first Cheltenham Festival feature race in 2006, when he rode My Way de Solzen
to victory in the World Hurdle
.
Thornton has since won the Champion Hurdle
and Triumph Hurdle
. He has also achieved good results in some of the Cheltenham Festival’s most prestigious chases, winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase
on Voy Por Ustedes
in 2007, and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in the same year. Thornton won the Top Jockey title at the Cheltenham Festival in 2007, by riding 4 winners during the meeting. In 2008 he rode three winners including a notable 1st day double.
Thornton rode his 1,000th career winner on Araldur at Towcester on March 28 2011.
He is unrelated to the jockey Andrew Thornton
.
His worst moment in racing was when Strong Promise died in the 2000 Martel Cup at Liverpool.
- King Lucifer
1997 Pertemps Final
- Pharanear
2004 William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase - Fork Lightning
2005 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase - Kelami
2005 Triumph Hurdle
- Penzance
2006 Arkle Challenge Trophy - Voy Por Ustedes
2006 World Hurdle
- My Way de Solzen
2007 Arkle Challenge Trophy - My Way de Solzen
2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Voy Por Ustedes
2007 Triumph Hurdle - Katchit
2007 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
- Andreas
2008 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
- Captain Cee Bee
2008 Champion Hurdle
- Katchit
2008 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
- Nenuphar Collonges
2011 Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase - Bensalem
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
National Hunt
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King
Alan King (horse racing)
Alan King is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at Barbury Castle stables near Wroughton, Wiltshire....
.
Robert "Chocolate" Thornton (known as Choc) is one of the United Kingdom's leading National Hunt jockeys. After growing up riding hunters with his father (a noted professional Huntsman) he started working for master trainer David Nicholson
David Nicholson (horse racing)
David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....
. He started riding for 'the Duke' as an amateur and after immediate success became an apprentice riding 7 1 winners during his first season in the sport. Having started as an amateur attached to David Nicholson's yard at Jackdaws Castle, near Stow-on-the Wold, in 1997, he won the Conditional Jockey's title the following year.
Since making his professional debut, Thornton’s performance has been consistent, if unspectacular, and he has consistently featured in the top 10 of the British Jumps Jockey Championship. Thornton’s most successful season to date was the 2007/2008-season, during which he broke the 100-winner barrier for the first time, by winning 105 of his 597 races.
Robert Thornton shies away from the spotlight most notably and correctly he will not talk to the television cameras until he has spoken to his owners and trainer.
Now, having joined Alan King, "Choc" has been the leading English jockey in 2005 and 2006 in a profession dominated by the Irish.
Robert Thornton’s greatest achievements are all linked to the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, at which the English jockey has shown a knack for riding winners in major hurdles races. He has the wonderful ability of keeping most of his rides in the race and putting them in a position to win if they are good enough. Thornton won his first Cheltenham Festival feature race in 2006, when he rode My Way de Solzen
My Way de Solzen
My Way De Solzen is 8 year bay gelding racing horse, who began his racing career trained in France by A. Lamotte D'Argy.-2004/5:He made his first start in 2 mile 1 furling chase at Dieppe, where he was pulled up...
to victory in the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World 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 New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
.
Thornton has since won the Champion Hurdle
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. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
and Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
. He has also achieved good results in some of the Cheltenham Festival’s most prestigious chases, winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase 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 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
on Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes is a French-bred chaser owned by Sir Robert Ogden and trained by Nicky Henderson. He was originally trained by Guillaume Macaire in France and was subsequently sold to the Million in Mind Partnership in December 2004...
in 2007, and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in the same year. Thornton won the Top Jockey title at the Cheltenham Festival in 2007, by riding 4 winners during the meeting. In 2008 he rode three winners including a notable 1st day double.
Thornton rode his 1,000th career winner on Araldur at Towcester on March 28 2011.
He is unrelated to the jockey Andrew Thornton
Andrew Thornton
Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to...
.
His worst moment in racing was when Strong Promise died in the 2000 Martel Cup at Liverpool.
Cheltenham Festival Winners
1997 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge CupFulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain for amateur riders 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 and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be...
- King Lucifer
1997 Pertemps Final
Pertemps Final
The Pertemps Final is a Listed National Hunt hurdle race 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 , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
- Pharanear
2004 William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase - Fork Lightning
2005 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase - Kelami
2005 Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- Penzance
2006 Arkle Challenge Trophy - Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes is a French-bred chaser owned by Sir Robert Ogden and trained by Nicky Henderson. He was originally trained by Guillaume Macaire in France and was subsequently sold to the Million in Mind Partnership in December 2004...
2006 World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World 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 New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
- My Way de Solzen
My Way de Solzen
My Way De Solzen is 8 year bay gelding racing horse, who began his racing career trained in France by A. Lamotte D'Argy.-2004/5:He made his first start in 2 mile 1 furling chase at Dieppe, where he was pulled up...
2007 Arkle Challenge Trophy - My Way de Solzen
2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase 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 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
- Voy Por Ustedes
2007 Triumph Hurdle - Katchit
Katchit
Katchit is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, the peak of whose flat racing and hurdling career came in 2008 when, against the odds, he won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival...
2007 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase 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 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are fourteen fences to be jumped...
- Andreas
2008 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme 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 on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- Captain Cee Bee
2008 Champion Hurdle
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. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
- Katchit
2008 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Spa Novices' Hurdle
The Spa Novices' Hurdle, also known as the Albert Bartlett 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 on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there...
- Nenuphar Collonges
2011 Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase - Bensalem