Thornton was top jockey at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival

Jump jockey Robert Thornton has had a successful operation to repair ligaments in his knee after a fall at Newton Abbot on Monday.

Alan King's stable jockey, who is being treated at Bristol's St Mary's Hospital, faces a year out of action.

"I spoke to 'Choc' [Thornton] on Thursday afternoon and he told me that the operation went well and that it is a case of so far so good," said King.

"All being well 'Choc' will hopefully be sent home on Friday."

Thornton, widely known by his nickname 'Choc', appeared to have avoided serious injury when Hell's Bay crashed out of a beginners' chase.

606: DEBATE Good luck and get well soon, Choc Penzance

"I have been told to expect to be out for 12 months and hopefully work back from that," the Champion Hurdle-winning rider told the Daily Mail.

"I will be trying my best to make it as near to six months as I can."

Although X-rays confirmed there had been no fracture, a subsequent MRI scan revealed the injury to be more serious than first feared.

"'Choc' will have to keep the knee fairly still for six weeks or so, he will then be able to start the rebuilding process and we will keep everyone in touch with his progress at regular intervals," added King.

Darlington-born Thornton was top jockey at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival, when his four victories included a triumph on Voy Por Ustedes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

And Thornton rode Katchit to victory in the Champion Hurdle at the 2008 meeting.

The jockey is popular with punters and is seen as an independent figure.

He refuses to be interviewed immediately after a race, saying the trainer and owner deserve to hear his opinion first.

And he has produced a St George's flag in the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham - a counterpoint to the colours often waved by Irish jockeys.

Thornton, like all National Hunt riders, is no stranger injury.

In December 2006, he rode Voy Por Ustedes to victory at Kempton despite riding with a broken collarbone.

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