Jonathan Powell talks to veteran jockey Andrew Thornton about his triumphant Gold Cup aboard Cool Dawn

JONATHAN POWELL
Twenty years have passed since Andrew Thornton claimed a stirring victory on Cool Dawn in the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of all the jockeys who rode in the great old race that day only Thornton and Timmy Murphy still hold a licence.
Murphy, sensible fellow, now restricts his riding to the flat. Thornton, however, is still enjoying the cut and thrust of steeplechasing at the venerable age of 45 and shows no sign of stopping.
If he was ever tempted to retire it ...