GRAHAM LEE suffered an injury scare at Wetherby ahead of this Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.
The National-winning jockey, who is due to partner the Tom George-trained Kilbeggan Blade in the Aintree showpiece, was unseated from Wee Forbes in the wilmot-smith Memorial Cup. He also suffered a kick from another horse as he lay on the ground.
Lee sat up, but was stretchered into an ambulance.
He was assessed by the racecourse doctor and stood down for the remainder of the card at the Yorkshire venue.
Lee, who won the National on Amberleigh House in 2004, was reported to be bruised and sore, but he expects to fit for the start of Aintree tomorrow.
Meanwhile Bob Buckler hopes Niche Market can sneak into the National when the final declarations are made tomorrow.
With War of Attrition out Zabenz is the last horse on the list in for the maximum 40-runner field.
The Nick Williams-trained Maljimar is the first reserve, with Niche Market needing four horses to come out to get a run as he is also behind Companero and Pomme Tiepy in the list.
Buckler said: “We might just get in, but we’ll have to wait and see. If we don’t, we’ll go to Fairyhouse for the Irish National instead.
“The horse is raring to go. He’d prefer a bit more rain; if he got in, Harry Skelton would ride.”
Buckler will though saddle a runner over the National fences with The Sawyer lined up for Friday’s John Smith’s Topham Chase.
NICKY RICHARDS’ grey Monet’s Garden is out for the rest of the season after suffering a tendon injury.
The 11-year-old, who was sixth in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last time, has won three times in six starts at Aintree and was entered in tomorrow’s totesport Bowl. But Richards said: “He won’t run again this season as he has had a bang on a tendon. It’s disappointing to miss Aintree as he always runs well there.”
