Andrew Thornton
Full name Andrew Robert Thornton
Full name Andrew Robert Thornton
Born October 28, 1972
Born October 28, 1972
Apprenticeship amateur rider with Arthur Stephenson
Apprenticeship amateur rider with Arthur Stephenson
First ride Brave Ruler, Kelso, November 7, 1990
First ride Brave Ruler, Kelso, November 7, 1990
First winner Wrekin Hill, Sedgefield, November 22, 1991
First winner Wrekin Hill, Sedgefield, November 22, 1991
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn (1998)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn (1998)
Other Cheltenham Festival winners Maamur (1996 National Hunt Handicap Chase), French Holly (1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle)
Other Cheltenham Festival winners Maamur (1996 National Hunt Handicap Chase), French Holly (1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle)
King George VI Chase winner See More Business (1997)
King George VI Chase winner See More Business (1997)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Gingembre (2002)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Gingembre (2002)
Welsh National winner Miko De Beauchene (2007)
Welsh National winner Miko De Beauchene (2007)
Scottish Grand National winner Gingembre (2001)
Scottish Grand National winner Gingembre (2001)
Racing Post Chase winners Super Tactics (1998), Simon (2007)
Racing Post Chase winners Super Tactics (1998), Simon (2007)
Christmas Hurdle winner French Holly (1998)
Christmas Hurdle winner French Holly (1998)
Other big winners Cool Dawn (1997 Betterware Cup), French Holly (1998 Tolworth Hurdle, 1999 Prix La Barka), Dr Leunt (1999 Rehearsal Chase), Behrajan (2000 Haydock Long-Distance Hurdle), See More Business (2002 Rehearsal Chase), Sir Rembrandt (2003 Rehearsal Chase), Kingscliff (2003 Tripleprint Chase), Sunray (2003 Finale Juvenile Hurdle), The Listener (2006 Dipper Novices' Chase), A Glass In Thyne (2006 Sky Bet Chase), Simon (2007 Sky Bet Chase), Miko De Beauchene (2008 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup)
Other big winners Cool Dawn (1997 Betterware Cup), French Holly (1998 Tolworth Hurdle, 1999 Prix La Barka), Dr Leunt (1999 Rehearsal Chase), Behrajan (2000 Haydock Long-Distance Hurdle), See More Business (2002 Rehearsal Chase), Sir Rembrandt (2003 Rehearsal Chase), Kingscliff (2003 Tripleprint Chase), Sunray (2003 Finale Juvenile Hurdle), The Listener (2006 Dipper Novices' Chase), A Glass In Thyne (2006 Sky Bet Chase), Simon (2007 Sky Bet Chase), Miko De Beauchene (2008 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup)
Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt (2004)
Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt (2004)
Placed mount in Champion Hurdle French Holly (3rd, 1999)
Placed mount in Champion Hurdle French Holly (3rd, 1999)
Highest finisher in Grand National St Mellion Fairway (4th, 1998)
Highest finisher in Grand National St Mellion Fairway (4th, 1998)
Best mounts (Racing Post Ratings) Cool Dawn (172, 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup), French Holly (170, 1998 Christmas Hurdle), Sir Rembrandt (170, 2nd in 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup)
Best mounts (Racing Post Ratings) Cool Dawn (172, 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup), French Holly (170, 1998 Christmas Hurdle), Sir Rembrandt (170, 2nd in 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup)
Lester Awards Jump Jockey Special Recognition 1996, 1997; Jump Ride of the Year 2003 (Kingscliff, Coral.co.uk Handicap Chase), 2007 (Miko De Beauchene, Welsh National)
Lester Awards Jump Jockey Special Recognition 1996, 1997; Jump Ride of the Year 2003 (Kingscliff, Coral.co.uk Handicap Chase), 2007 (Miko De Beauchene, Welsh National)
Champion amateur rider 1992-93
Champion amateur rider 1992-93
Highest position in jump jockeys' championship 5th (2003-04)
Highest position in jump jockeys' championship 5th (2003-04)
Most wins in a season 86 (2003-04)
Most wins in a season 86 (2003-04)
1,000th win over jumps in Britain Kentford Myth, Wincanton, December 26, 2016
1,000th win over jumps in Britain Kentford Myth, Wincanton, December 26, 2016
He was one of the very few National Hunt jockeys who wore contact lenses while riding and thus he acquired the nicknames “Lensio”. Because he was taller than the average jump jockey, he rode with long stirrups. It was not always attractive to look at but it rarely failed to get the job done.
He was one of the very few National Hunt jockeys who wore contact lenses while riding and thus he acquired the nicknames “Lensio”. Because he was taller than the average jump jockey, he rode with long stirrups. It was not always attractive to look at but it rarely failed to get the job done.
After 29 years of race riding, he retired, aged 45, at Uttoxeter on June 6, 2018, having ridden his final winner, the 1,007th of his career, that day on Amirr in a two-mile maiden hurdle.
After 29 years of race riding, he retired, aged 45, at Uttoxeter on June 6, 2018, having ridden his final winner, the 1,007th of his career, that day on Amirr in a two-mile maiden hurdle.