Lee still to make Grand National decision
Jockey Graham Lee will announce later today whether, as widely anticipated, he will partner Grey Abbey in next Saturday's John Smith's Grand National, bringing weeks of understandable equivocation to a close.
If he opts for the Howard Johnsontrained topweight, Lee will be deserting Amberleigh House, now a 13 year old, aboard whom he secured a celebrated victory in the race last year.
Since switching to the powerful Howard Johnson stable 18 months ago, the popular Grey Abbey has notched a string of important successes including last season's Scottish National at Ayr and the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham in January.
Most recently, he was a gallant fifth in the Gold Cup after an interrupted preparation.
Explaining his quandary while putting Grey Abbey through his paces at Johnson's County Durham base, Lee said: "I had hoped to make a decision this morning after he had schooled, but there are still a few things to take into account and I need to talk it over again with the boss." As far as the horse's National hopes are concerned, one factor not affecting Lee's thought process is the welter burden he has been alotted by the handicapper. "Normally a weight like that would worry you, but this horse is a bit of a freak and just keeps galloping. Just look at what he did at Ayr last year in desperate ground." Lee's situation has always been a little more delicate than a simple calculation of which horse would have the better chance.
Whichever way he jumps, he leaves himself open to a charge, just or otherwise, of disloyalty either to the horse that provided him with arguably his finest hour in the saddle or to a trainer who recently supplied him with three Cheltenham victories.
As even those with only a passing interest in the sport are aware, Amberleigh House last year provided Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain with a fourth victory in the world's most famous steeplechase.
In so doing, he reinforced McCain's perceived inextricable connection with Aintree, one that is seized upon eagerly by the wider media. His mildly risque banter has now become as predictable as was the Jenny Pitman - Des Lynam love-in during the 80s and 90s.
McCain's standing as one of racing's more trenchant opiniongivers was confirmed a week ago when he urged Lee to "pull his Irish finger out" and "act like a man."
McCain went on: "He owes it to the horse to ride him and never mind Mr Johnson or anyone else. That aside, if he wants to get off the favourite and the horse with the very best chance, that's up to him."
Subsequently, the veteran handler has mellowed somewhat, insisting that Lee is "a grand lad."
