Graham Lee
Graham Lee
Graham Lee
Graham Lee, the only jockey to have won the Grand National and the Ascot Gold Cup, was born in Galway on December 16, 1975. His grandfather, Matthew Lee, played football for Kilmarnock FC as well as being capped for his national team. His brother, Malcolm Lee, was a flat jockey, as was his cousin Dean Mernagh.
Graham Lee, the only jockey to have won the Grand National and the Ascot Gold Cup, was born in Galway on December 16, 1975. His grandfather, Matthew Lee, played football for Kilmarnock FC as well as being capped for his national team. His brother, Malcolm Lee, was a flat jockey, as was his cousin Dean Mernagh.
Following a successful stint on the Irish pony circuit, Graham left school at the age of 15 and became apprenticed to trainer Noel Meade. He then joined Des McDonagh, based in County Meath, before moving to England.
Following a successful stint on the Irish pony circuit, Graham left school at the age of 15 and became apprenticed to trainer Noel Meade. He then joined Des McDonagh, based in County Meath, before moving to England.
He initially joined Saltburn trainer Mary Reveley but failed to make much of an impression. He also suffered a serious knee injury, which sidelined him for more than seven months. Having recovered from that, his fortunes improved when joining, firstly, Bill Haigh and then Malcolm Jefferson.
He initially joined Saltburn trainer Mary Reveley but failed to make much of an impression. He also suffered a serious knee injury, which sidelined him for more than seven months. Having recovered from that, his fortunes improved when joining, firstly, Bill Haigh and then Malcolm Jefferson.
A successful stint with Jefferson secured him the lucrative position with Howard Johnson in 2002, along with fifth place in the jockeys’ championship.
A successful stint with Jefferson secured him the lucrative position with Howard Johnson in 2002, along with fifth place in the jockeys’ championship.
He rode for many other trainers during these years, most notably Ginger McCain, for whom he finished third on Amberleigh House in the 2003 Grand National. In the autumn of that year, he rode five winners in a day at Wetherby.
He rode for many other trainers during these years, most notably Ginger McCain, for whom he finished third on Amberleigh House in the 2003 Grand National. In the autumn of that year, he rode five winners in a day at Wetherby.
In 2004 he gained his greatest victory over jumps when winning the Grand National on Amberleigh House. He followed that with victory in the Scottish Grand National on topweight Grey Abbey, becoming one of only three jockeys, along with Brian Fletcher and Ruby Walsh, to achieve a ‘Grand National Double’ in the same season.
In 2004 he gained his greatest victory over jumps when winning the Grand National on Amberleigh House. He followed that with victory in the Scottish Grand National on topweight Grey Abbey, becoming one of only three jockeys, along with Brian Fletcher and Ruby Walsh, to achieve a ‘Grand National Double’ in the same season.
He was top jockey at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival, winning the Stayers’ Hurdle on Inglis Drever, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Arcalis, and the Royal & SunAlliance (Baring Bingham) Novices’ Hurdle on No Refuge, all for Howard Johnson’s main owner, Graham Wylie. He finished third in that year’s jockeys’ championship behind Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson.
He was top jockey at the 2005 Cheltenham Festival, winning the Stayers’ Hurdle on Inglis Drever, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Arcalis, and the Royal & SunAlliance (Baring Bingham) Novices’ Hurdle on No Refuge, all for Howard Johnson’s main owner, Graham Wylie. He finished third in that year’s jockeys’ championship behind Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson.
He missed the 2006 Scottish National due to a virus, an incident which would eventually result in an acrimonious split with Howard Johnson. He was replaced as stable jockey by Paddy Brennan.
He missed the 2006 Scottish National due to a virus, an incident which would eventually result in an acrimonious split with Howard Johnson. He was replaced as stable jockey by Paddy Brennan.
Graham then became stable jockey and deputy trainer for Ferdy Murphy, with whom he would remain until March 2012. He was second in the 2007 Scottish National on Nine De Sivola, missing out by just half a length, and in the same year’s Irish Grand National. Although his profile dipped after joining Murphy, he nonetheless finished second in the 2007/08 jockeys’ championship.
Graham then became stable jockey and deputy trainer for Ferdy Murphy, with whom he would remain until March 2012. He was second in the 2007 Scottish National on Nine De Sivola, missing out by just half a length, and in the same year’s Irish Grand National. Although his profile dipped after joining Murphy, he nonetheless finished second in the 2007/08 jockeys’ championship.
In 2009, Graham began riding for newly licensed trainer Rose Dobbin, in addition to his work for Murphy. He rode his 1,000th career winner at Newcastle on January 7, 2012.
In 2009, Graham began riding for newly licensed trainer Rose Dobbin, in addition to his work for Murphy. He rode his 1,000th career winner at Newcastle on January 7, 2012.
Following an unlucky run of injuries, he announced that he would switch from National Hunt to Flat racing in April 2012. It proved a successful transition, reaping immediate dividends when winning that year’s Stewards Cup on the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo. Later that season, they finished second in the Grade 2 British Champions Sprint at Ascot.
Following an unlucky run of injuries, he announced that he would switch from National Hunt to Flat racing in April 2012. It proved a successful transition, reaping immediate dividends when winning that year’s Stewards Cup on the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo. Later that season, they finished second in the Grade 2 British Champions Sprint at Ascot.
He finished third in the 2014 Flat jockeys’ championship with 159 victories. The following year he won the Chester Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup on the Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris. In 2018 he guided Alpha Delphini, trained by Bryan Smart, to victory by a nose in a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
He finished third in the 2014 Flat jockeys’ championship with 159 victories. The following year he won the Chester Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup on the Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris. In 2018 he guided Alpha Delphini, trained by Bryan Smart, to victory by a nose in a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
With 47 winners on the board for 2023, the last two being a double at Leicester on October 10, aboard Wichahpi for Bryan Smart in a six-furlong nursery, and Beraz for Julie Camacho in a ten-furlong handicap, Graham was well on his way to completing his half century for the season.
With 47 winners on the board for 2023, the last two being a double at Leicester on October 10, aboard Wichahpi for Bryan Smart in a six-furlong nursery, and Beraz for Julie Camacho in a ten-furlong handicap, Graham was well on his way to completing his half century for the season.
However, at Newcastle on November 10, 2023, he suffered a serious spinal injury when unseated from his mount Ben Macdui as the stalls opened for a sprint handicap. He was taken to Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle, where an MRI scan showed that he had suffered an unstable cervical fracture causing damage to the spinal cord, as well as damage to blood vessels in the mid-cervical region.
However, at Newcastle on November 10, 2023, he suffered a serious spinal injury when unseated from his mount Ben Macdui as the stalls opened for a sprint handicap. He was taken to Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle, where an MRI scan showed that he had suffered an unstable cervical fracture causing damage to the spinal cord, as well as damage to blood vessels in the mid-cervical region.
His injuries were life-changing. Aged 47, he was left paralysed from the neck down.
His injuries were life-changing. Aged 47, he was left paralysed from the neck down.
Big race wins include:
Big race wins include:
2004: Grand National – Amberleigh House
2004: Grand National – Amberleigh House
2004: Scottish Grand National – Grey Abbey
2004: Scottish Grand National – Grey Abbey
2005: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Arcalis
2005: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Arcalis
2005: Royal & SunAlliance (Baring Bingham) Novices’ Hurdle – No Refuge
2005: Royal & SunAlliance (Baring Bingham) Novices’ Hurdle – No Refuge
2005: World (Stayers’) Hurdle – Inglis Drever
2005: World (Stayers’) Hurdle – Inglis Drever
2005: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Inglis Drever
2005: West Yorkshire Hurdle – Inglis Drever
2005: Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) – Inglis Drever
2005: Long Distance Hurdle (Newbury) – Inglis Drever
2005: Betway Bowl – Grey Abbey
2005: Betway Bowl – Grey Abbey
2207: Lightning Novices’ Chase – Another Promise
2207: Lightning Novices’ Chase – Another Promise
2007: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Aces Four
2007: Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Aces Four
2009: Maghull Novices’ Chase – Kalahari King
2009: Maghull Novices’ Chase – Kalahari King
2012: Stewards’ Cup – Hawkeyethenoo
2012: Stewards’ Cup – Hawkeyethenoo
2015: Chester Cup – Trip To Paris
2015: Chester Cup – Trip To Paris
2015: Ascot Gold Cup – Trip To Paris
2015: Ascot Gold Cup – Trip To Paris
2018: Nunthorpe Stakes – Alpha Delphini
2018: Nunthorpe Stakes – Alpha Delphini
In Ireland
In Ireland
2007: Ryanair Novice Chase – Another Promise
2007: Ryanair Novice Chase – Another Promise
2007: Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase – Another Promise
2007: Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase – Another Promise