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 St Stephen's 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. But Thornton, who was Kingscliff´s regular jockey before Walford, revealed he is no longer in the running to take the plum ride aboard last month´s Betfair Chase winner. 'I´m definitely not in line for Kingscliff so I am free to ride in the King George,' explained the jockey. 'Robert Alner was right behind me but I have spoken to the owner (Arnie Sendell) who does not feel I´m the right man for the job. 'There are a lot of other good horses in the race so hopefully something will crop up.' Thornton has ridden Alner´s eight-year-old five times, including last year´s renewal of the King George when Kingscliff finished runner-up to Kicking King at Kempton. ? PA Sport
