ANDREW Thornton, grand old man of the weigh-room at 44, finally made it to a career total of 1,000 winners when completing a double at Wincanton on St Stephen’s Day.

Over the jumps it matters little how the triumphs come along and Seamus Mullins’ Kentford Myth, who brought up the thousand, would not have won the mares’ novice chase but for the falls of the first and second favourites. Thornton had already moved on to 999 on the same trainer’s Somchine in the two-mile handicap chase.

“People have wondered about retirement but it’s hard to give up something you really enjoy, and I still enjoy this,” the amiable veteran said.

He missed his later rides, and Kempton the following day, after twisting his knee, though suggestions that it happened when attempting a Frankie Dettori-style flying dismount were strenuously denied. “Not at my age and height!” he grinned.

Whatever the fact of the matter, it was a good move to miss the following Lord Stalbridge Memorial Chase, because a multiple pile-up involved eight horses and was declared void with no finishers.