ANDREW Thornton, one of the most durable and popular members of the weigh-room, retired at Uttoxeter on Wednesday, signing off with a winner.

The 45-year-old rider rode his 1,007th winner in a 27-year career when partnering the Seamus Mullins-trained Amirr to 10-length victory in a two-mile maiden hurdle. He then came agonisingly close to a winner on his final ride when leading over the last on Manhattan Spring, only to be reeled in by 16/1 shot Lively Article and Tom O’Brien on the run in.