Jockey Lee edging closer to return

Graham Lee will ride out for Ferdy Murphy this Saturday as he continues on the road to recovery after fracturing his jaw in several places at Huntingdon last month.

The injury forced Murphy’s retained rider to miss out on last week’s Cheltenham Festival, but the jockey is planning to be back in the plate for the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in just over a fortnight.

“Graham is going to ride out for me on Saturday and he seems in very good order,” said Murphy.

“He has been training every day with Middlesbrough Football Club and he has also had a brain scan which has come back clear.

“He has to take a co-ordination test next week and he tells me that he will be back to ride at the Grand National meeting.”

Should Lee be back fighting fit for the three-day Liverpool fixture which gets under way on April 3, he will have the likes of Supreme Novices’ fourth Kalahari King to look forward too.

“Kalahari King is a possible to run at the meeting, while You’re Special won’t get in the National but could run in one of the other races over the National fences,” added Murphy.

“I’ll probable have about nine or 10 runners at the meeting and Aces Four could run in the totesport Bowl.

“He had a gallop around the track at Aintree earlier today and that will have done him the power of good after his comeback over hurdles at Newcastle.

“It is great to get an away day into him after his setback and it will be interesting to see what turns up for the race after Cheltenham.”