Graham Thorner
Well To Do, backed down from 33/1 to 14/1 overnight, won the 1972 Grand National and was the mount of Graham Thorner, the (then) current reigning champion jockey.
Well To Do, backed down from 33/1 to 14/1 overnight, won the 1972 Grand National and was the mount of Graham Thorner, the (then) current reigning champion jockey.
Favourite for the race was dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L'Escargot: he was baulked and brought down at the third fence.
Favourite for the race was dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L'Escargot: he was baulked and brought down at the third fence.
The race was run in atrocious conditions – strong winds & pouring rain – and the top weights had little chance from the off. The well-weighted Well To Do, the best backed outsider in the race, won easily.
The race was run in atrocious conditions – strong winds & pouring rain – and the top weights had little chance from the off. The well-weighted Well To Do, the best backed outsider in the race, won easily.
Graham Edward Thorner was born in Wells on January 27, 1949, the son of an Axbridge, Somerset farmer. He had his first pony when aged ten and went on to collect upwards of 30 trophies in the West Country show rings between the ages of twelve and fifteen
Graham Edward Thorner was born in Wells on January 27, 1949, the son of an Axbridge, Somerset farmer. He had his first pony when aged ten and went on to collect upwards of 30 trophies in the West Country show rings between the ages of twelve and fifteen
He joined Tim Forster's stable at Letcombe Bassett straight from school in 1964 and started out as an amateur rider. He rode his first winner two years later on a horse named Longway, in a Newton Abbott long-distance handicap hurdle on September 16, 1966.
He joined Tim Forster's stable at Letcombe Bassett straight from school in 1964 and started out as an amateur rider. He rode his first winner two years later on a horse named Longway, in a Newton Abbott long-distance handicap hurdle on September 16, 1966.
Graham turned professional the following season, gaining his first success in the paid ranks aboard Sandy Sadler in a Plumpton selling chase on October 10, 1967. They followed up at the same course seven days later and added a third selling chase success at Fontwell in November.
Graham turned professional the following season, gaining his first success in the paid ranks aboard Sandy Sadler in a Plumpton selling chase on October 10, 1967. They followed up at the same course seven days later and added a third selling chase success at Fontwell in November.
He was crowned champion jockey for the 1970/71 National Hunt season with 74 winners. They included the Midlands Grand National on the David Gandolfo-trained Grey Sombrero. He also finished fourth in that season’s Grand National on Bowgeeno.
He was crowned champion jockey for the 1970/71 National Hunt season with 74 winners. They included the Midlands Grand National on the David Gandolfo-trained Grey Sombrero. He also finished fourth in that season’s Grand National on Bowgeeno.
Graham enjoyed a long association with Tim Forster, stayed with him throughout his riding career. They had plenty of big race success together in addition to Well To Do’s Grand National triumph, including the King George VI Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup with Royal Marshall II, the Mildmay of Flete Chase and S.G.B. Chase with Mocharabuice, the Mandarin Chase with Master Spy and the Grand Annual with Casbah.
Graham enjoyed a long association with Tim Forster, stayed with him throughout his riding career. They had plenty of big race success together in addition to Well To Do’s Grand National triumph, including the King George VI Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup with Royal Marshall II, the Mildmay of Flete Chase and S.G.B. Chase with Mocharabuice, the Mandarin Chase with Master Spy and the Grand Annual with Casbah.
Tim and the ultra-fit jockey were the perfect team, each admiring the other's skill and professionalism.
Tim and the ultra-fit jockey were the perfect team, each admiring the other's skill and professionalism.
Tim said: “It was perfectly obvious from the beginning that he was going to be a fine rider. He immediately displayed natural ability, horsemanship and a racing brain.”
Tim said: “It was perfectly obvious from the beginning that he was going to be a fine rider. He immediately displayed natural ability, horsemanship and a racing brain.”
Graham retired in 1979, having ridden a total of 646 winners. Among the best horses he rode were Alverton, Tingle Creek and Tim Forster’s pair Deny’s Adventure and Royal Marshall II.
Graham retired in 1979, having ridden a total of 646 winners. Among the best horses he rode were Alverton, Tingle Creek and Tim Forster’s pair Deny’s Adventure and Royal Marshall II.
He married Caroline Cooke, the daughter of an Oxfordshire farmer. She gave him four daughters, one of whom, Clare, become a conditional jockey. The family lived in a Cotswold stone farmhouse near Cricklade that stood in four acres. Graham took up training and constantly worked to improve his stable yard and facilities.
He married Caroline Cooke, the daughter of an Oxfordshire farmer. She gave him four daughters, one of whom, Clare, become a conditional jockey. The family lived in a Cotswold stone farmhouse near Cricklade that stood in four acres. Graham took up training and constantly worked to improve his stable yard and facilities.
He continued to train until January 1999, shortly before his 50th birthday, but had been unable to repeat that success as a trainer. In his best season he had sent out just 11 winners.
He continued to train until January 1999, shortly before his 50th birthday, but had been unable to repeat that success as a trainer. In his best season he had sent out just 11 winners.
He became an owner but was not the luckiest. In February 2011 his horse Marching Song was one of two horses electrocuted in a freak incident in the paddock at Newbury racecourse. Graham and his co-owners spent several years trying to gain adequate compensation, having been unable to agree a valuation of Marching Song who was trained by Andy Turnell.
He became an owner but was not the luckiest. In February 2011 his horse Marching Song was one of two horses electrocuted in a freak incident in the paddock at Newbury racecourse. Graham and his co-owners spent several years trying to gain adequate compensation, having been unable to agree a valuation of Marching Song who was trained by Andy Turnell.
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
Grand National winner: Well To Do (1972)
Grand National winner: Well To Do (1972)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1971: Midlands Grand National – Grey Sombrero
1971: Midlands Grand National – Grey Sombrero
1972: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Mocharabuice
1972: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Mocharabuice
1973: Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – Deny’s Adventure
1973: Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – Deny’s Adventure
1973: S.G.B. Handicap Chase – Mocharabuice
1973: S.G.B. Handicap Chase – Mocharabuice
1974: Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Final – Kastrup
1974: Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Final – Kastrup
1974: Hennessy Gold Cup – Royal Marshal II
1974: Hennessy Gold Cup – Royal Marshal II
1976: King George VI Chase – Royal Marshal II
1976: King George VI Chase – Royal Marshal II
1977: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Master Spy
1977: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Master Spy
1978: Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – Alverton
1978: Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase – Alverton
1979: Grand Annual Chase – Casbah
1979: Grand Annual Chase – Casbah