Lycetts is delighted to sponsor Robert "Chocolate" Thornton, the top National Hunt jockey retained by Alan King, one of the leading jump trainers based at Barbury Castle, near Marlborough.

"Choc", as he is universally known, follows in the footsteps of the Champion Flat jockey, Jamie Spencer, who is also sponsored by Lycetts.

Having started as an amateur attached to David Nicholson's yard at Jackdaws Castle, near Stow-on-the Wold, in 1997, he won the Conditional Jockey's title the following year. Now, having joined Alan King, "Choc" has been the leading English jockey in 2005 and 2006 in a profession dominated by the Irish.

At the Cheltenham Festival in 2007 he was the most successful jockey at the meeting with four winners, including the very high Class My Way De Solzen, Voy Por Ustedes and Katchit.