From a broken rein to a golden reign: five of Andrew Thornton's best wins

Kingscliff
2003 Coral.co.uk Handicap Chase, Ascot
The proof that here was a horseman through and through. The form comment sets the scene – ‘left rein broke after third’ – and for the next two and a half miles or so Thornton turned in a bravura performance, a one-string symphony. Kingscliff was odds-on but his rider was odds-against, yet he kept the partnership intact through sheer willpower and that long-legged style – and a 17-length winning margin meant no requirement to ride a rousing finish. “He was as happy as Larry just jumping his way round, doing his own thing. It probably helped that he didn’t have anybody interfering with him,” self-deprecated Thornton, his modesty in no way disguising his magnificence.

Miko De Beauchene
2007 Welsh National
Sometimes the iron fist works better without the velvet glove. With the mud flying, the breath failing and time running out there is little room for finesse, and Thornton threw the lot at his gallant partner, driving him out after the last to catch and beat Halcon Genelardais by a head. High emotion coloured the day – winning trainer Robert Alner was in intensive care following a car crash that had left him paralysed – and Thornton’s irresistible show of strength was a fitting centrepiece. “Emotionally it was ahead of everything bar none, more than any other winner,” he said.

French Holly
1998 Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle
Perhaps there was nothing ostensibly awe-inspiring about this one, the 2-1 favourite a class apart from his rivals, the process of the race essentially straightforward, the form comment ‘led three out, clear next, impressive’, a job to do, job done. Yet what the eye doesn’t see is often what is most important, and in a recent interview with this newspaper Thornton was candid over the magnitude of this particular day’s work. “I consider that I rode at my best under pressure – French Holly at Cheltenham, hot favourite, talk about pressure, and I didn’t mess it up. Those are the days I remember.”