Injury boost for Thornton
Robert Thornton could make a quicker-than-expected return from a serious knee injury.
Thornton is reportedly making fine progress following his fall at Newton Abbot last month where he severed ligaments in his right knee.
Alan King’s stable jockey was facing up to a 12-month spell on the sidelines, but could now return for the second half of the National Hunt season.
King said: “The surgeon was very pleased with the way in which the knee has improved following the physio, and Choc (Thornton) is able to do away with the crutches and the other support.
“He will carry on with the physio and is able to do a little bit more each time, but it is a case of so far so good.
“While he will know more when he next visits (surgeon) Jonathan Webb, it seems that he might yet return for the second half of the season, which has been his target all along.
“That is smashing news, and he is clearly going the right way,” the Barbury Castle handler told his website, www.alankingracing.com.
