Robert Thornton’s silent stand a turn-off for Channel 4 at Cheltenham

• Top jockey draws line over winning-post interviews • Channel 4 ‘disappointed’ by Thornton’s refusal Channel 4 Racing said yesterday that it will respect Robert Thornton’s wish to decline interviews with its reporters immediately after races at the Cheltenham Festival next week, while emphasising its disappointment at the attitude of one of the sport’s leading names. An instant interview a few seconds after the winner has crossed the line has become a regular part of Channel 4’s coverage at major meetings, and Thornton is believed to be the only jockey to have told the programme’s producers that he does not want to participate. “We are grateful to the vast majority of winning jockeys who speak to Channel 4 Racing at the end of each race, so it’s disappointing to hear this,” a spokeswoman for the station said last night. “It is vital for the good health of the sport that its key characters talk to the media

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