Lee to go flat out in new direction

TOP jockey Graham Lee has cited the influence of AP McCoy as a factor behind his decision to quit National Hunt racing in a bid to become a leading Flat rider.

The former Grand National-winning rider is the highest-profile jockey to make the switch and says his weight – and not injury – was the crucial motivating element.

His decision to leave Ferdy Murphy’s North Yorkshire yard after a successful six-year association comes two months after Lee, 36, rode his 1,000th career winner.

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Currently sidelined with a twisted hip sustained in a horrific fall at Southwell six weeks ago, Lee says he cannot face the required gym sessions to build up his body muscle so he can ride over the jumps.

Lee hopes to be passed fit to begin his new career at the end of next month and revealed that his great friend McCoy, the 16-times champion jockey and Gold Cup-winning rider, is among those who believes that he can prosper on the Flat.

“AP has been saying for years that I’m off my rocker not to ride on the Flat, and keeps saying how well I would have done because I’m smaller than most of the boys,” said Lee, who lives near Bedale.

“It’s taken a long time for the message to get through, but it finally has.

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“Look, I loved riding over the jumps that much that I used to train like mad to keep a stone on me because the minimum weight is 10 stone.

“I got home from the hospital after the Southwell fall and I was 9st 12lb and I got on the scales this morning and I was 8st 12lb, so I’ve took a stone off in just over five weeks. I can’t go through trying to build that muscle up again.

“The top lads like Ryan Moore, they do about 8st 7lb, and I think I can do it. If I can be a top five or six rider, I don’t know. I’ll give it everything and we’ll see where that leads us. Am I riding on the Flat to wind down? Not a chance.

“I’m going into this with the rev-counter in red, I’m giving it my all and I’m fortunate enough that my body is giving me the chance to go down this road.”

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In an illustrious career, Lee will forever be remembered for his 2004 Grand National-winning ride on Amberleigh House for the late Ginger McCain.

He also rode five Cheltenham Festival winners, including a treble on Inglis Drever, No Refuge and Arcalis in 2005, before joining Murphy’s West Witton yard where he struck a successful partnership on horses like L’Antartqiue, Hot Weld and Kalahari King.

But his career has been blighted by injuries in recent years – he suffered a potentially career-ending concussion injury at Huntingdon in 2008 and had only just returned from injury when he suffered a hideous fall at Southwell.

“It’s a great new challenge,” said Lee, who has already made contact with a couple of trainers. “One contributory factor is the number of racecourses within an hour’s drive of home – I’ll see more of my wife Becky and our two kids.

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“There’s obviously quite a big difference in riding in a three-mile chase round Hexham and a five-furlong sprint at Thirsk or Ripon, but I’ll adapt pretty quick.

“There is no way in the world I am ready to give up. I’m as competitive as ever. The sport is definitely starting to catch up with other sports fitness-wise and I have a great team of people around me.

“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I look after myself well. Although I’m a stone lighter than I was five weeks ago, I’m eating well and I’m not sweating. I’m exercising every morning on the bike and I feel really good at the minute. I cannot wait to get at it.”

Others to have made the switch to the Flat include Jim Crowley, who used to ride for Sue Smith, and Richmond-based Paddy Aspell, who has forged a successful alliance with Mick Easterby.

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As for Murphy, he is “relieved” that Lee is quitting NH racing in one piece after Adrian Maguire, his stable jockey at the turn of the century, was forced to retire after breaking his neck in a fall.

He said: “Graham was in the yard and it’s an absolute no-brainer for him. He has always had a light frame and had to do a lot of work in the gym to keep the weight on.

“He’s been a great man to work with and has been fantastic for the yard. It’s obviously a relief for him and it’s a big disappointment for the yard.”

As for the future, Murphy added: “I’m not going to do anything stupid. We’re near the end of the season now and I’ll speak to my owners. We have Lucy Alexander riding for us and some good young lads.

“We had AP McCoy and Noel Fehily riding for us at Cheltenham, Richard Johnson had a nice winner for us at Hexham, so there are plenty of good riders for us to call on if we need them.”

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