Riding Career
He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. Thornton is one of the very few National Hunt jockeys who wears contact lenses while riding and it is for this reason that he has acquired the nicknames "Lensio" and "Blindman" . He is married to Claire.
Despite having to endure many setbacks and injuries throughout his career, Thornton is now widely regarded as one of the best jumps jockeys around. He is also very highly respected among his weighing room colleagues. His opinion on horse racing is also well sought after by members of the Racing Post, Racing UK and At The Races.
Many criticise Thornton's riding style. However, it is quite effective in most experts' opinions. Because he is taller than the average jump jockey, he is forced to ride very low in the stirrups. It is not always attractive to look at but it rarely fails to get the job done. Its benefits are also highlighted by the record Thornton has in staying Handicap Chases and staying Handicap Hurdles. Along with Tony McCoy, he is probably the strongest jump jockey in a finish. He can push along from a mile out and galvanise the horse. His strength has been seen in many exciting finishes when he looked beaten turning for home.
Read more about this topic: Andrew Thornton
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