Thornton ruled out of Kingscliff ride

Andrew Thornton will not get the chance to partner Kingscliff in the Stan James King George VI Chase on Boxing Day – even if Robert Walford fails to recover from injury.

Thornton was touted as a possible replacement for Walford, who faces a race against time to be fit for the Sandown feature after he suffered a hairline fracture of his left collarbone in a schooling accident at Robert Alner’s Dorset stable last Thursday.