Robert Thornton called time on his riding career in September 2015. Choc has struggled with injury problems in recent seasons and had been sidelined with a back injury since a fall from Say When on 25 April 2014. He has recorded just one win at the Cheltenham Festival since 2008 and came closest recently on Uxizandre in 2014.
Here he talks to ATR about his decision and career highlights:
He does remain one of the winningmost jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival meeting.
Robert “Choc” Thornton burst onto the Cheltenham Festival scene with two winners while still an apprentice in 1997. These wins were for one of National Hunt racing’s legends, trainer David Nicholson. These days Choc rides as stable jockey for the Alan King yard and the pairing have had notable Cheltenham success landing three of the four Cheltenham Festival’s feature races.
The World Hurdle came first on My Way De Solzen in 2006, next up was the 2007 Champion Chase on Voy Por Ustedes, with Katchit winning the Champion Hurdle the following year.
At the time of his retirement Choc was in eighth in the table of jockeys ranked by Cheltenham Festival wins since 1945. Choc has ridden sixteen Cheltenham Festival winners.
Robert Thornton Cheltenham Festival Wins
| Year | Race | Horse | Trainer |
| 1997 | Pertemps | Pharanear | David Nicholson |
| 1997 | Kim Muir | King Lucifer | David Nicholson |
| 2004 | Festival Trophy | Fork Lightning | Alan King |
| 2005 | Festival Trophy | Kelami | François Doumen |
| 2005 | Triumph | Penzance | Alan King |
| 2005 | Alfred Bartlett | Moulin Riche | François Doumen |
| 2006 | Arkle | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 2006 | World Hurdle | My Way de Solzen | Alan King |
| 2007 | Arkle | My Way de Solzen | Alan King |
| 2007 | Champion Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 2007 | Triumph | Katchit | Alan King |
| 2007 | Grand Annual | Andreas | Paul Nicholls |
| 2008 | Supreme Novices | Captain Cee Bee | Eddie Harty |
| 2008 | Champion Hurdle | Katchit | Alan King |
| 2008 | Alfred Bartlett | Nenuphar Collonges | Alan King |
| 2011 | Festival Trophy | Bensalem | Alan King |
Choc joined National Hunt’s 1000 winner club on Araldur at Towcester on March 28 2011.
Robert Thornton Grade 1 Wins
| DATE | RACE NAME | HORSE | TRAINER |
| 23-Apr-97 | Doncaster Sales Jack White Memorial Flat Race | Arctic Camper | D Nicholson |
| 05-Apr-02 | Martell Sefton Novices’ Hurdle | Stromness | Alan King |
| 18-Mar-05 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Penzance | Alan King |
| 27-Dec-05 | totesport Long Walk Hurdle | My Way De Solzen | Alan King |
| 14-Mar-06 | Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 16-Mar-06 | Ladbrokes World Hurdle | My Way De Solzen | Alan King |
| 13-Mar-07 | Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase | My Way De Solzen | Alan King |
| 14-Mar-07 | Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 16-Mar-07 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Katchit | Alan King |
| 12-Apr-07 | John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle | Katchit | Alan King |
| 11-Mar-08 | Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy | Katchit | Alan King |
| 11-Mar-08 | Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Captain Cee Bee | Edward P Harty |
| 14-Mar-08 | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle | Nenuphar Collonges | Alan King |
| 04-Apr-08 | John Smith’s Melling Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 24-Apr-08 | Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle | Blazing Bailey | Alan King |
| 27-Dec-08 | Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle | Walkon | Alan King |
| 14-Feb-09 | Betfair Ascot Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 02-Apr-09 | Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle | Walkon | Alan King |
| 03-Apr-09 | John Smith’s Melling Chase | Voy Por Ustedes | Alan King |
| 05-Feb-11 | totepool Challengers Novices’ Chase | Medermit | Alan King |
| 12-Apr-12 | Sefton Novices Hurdle | Lovecen | Alan King |
| 13-Apr-12 | 4 yo Juvenile Hurdle | Grumeti | Alan King |
