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Robert "Choc" Thornton (born 14 July 1978 in Darlington)〔(BBC Sport - Racing at Cheltenham )〕 is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King. Robert "Chocolate" Thornton (known as Choc)〔(Chocthornton.com - Jockey's Personal Website )〕 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 71 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. 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. 〔(Horse & Hound - Cheltenham Summary )〕 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. ==Cheltenham Festival Winners== 1997 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup - 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 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Robert Thornton (jockey)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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