Thornton hits magical 1,000 mark

ROBERT Thornton rode his 1,000th career winner, and his 50th of the season, when steering Araldur home in the Free Bets At gg.com Novices’ Hurdle at Towcester yesterday.

The 32-year-old joins an elite club of jockeys, including Tony McCoy, Richard Johnson, Richard Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore, to achieve the four-figure landmark.

Thornton reached the milestone on Araldur, for his main retainer Alan King, who coincidentally saddled his 900th winner at Bangor on Saturday.