Fears of season-ending injury for Lee

Published on Thursday 16 February 2012 03:28

GRAHAM Lee’s season could be over after he suffered a dislocated hip from a fall at Southwell yesterday.

The injury occurred when he was unseated from the Ferdy Murphy-trained Rich Lord in the Handicap Chase.

Although he was initially thought to have sustained a suspected broken femur, X-rays taken at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, revealed a hip injury which will rule him out of the Cheltenham Festival – and possibly the rest of the campaign. Lee’s agent, Richard Hale, said: “The hip was definitely dislocated and has been put back in. As to whether he requires surgery, that has yet to be confirmed. I would say an injury like that could mean the end of his season.”

The 36-year-old Irishman, who won the 2004 Grand National on Amberleigh House, missed the 2008 Cheltenham Festival when he broke his jaw in two places and was kicked in the chest at Huntingdon. Another jockey to have been in the wars of late was Robert Thornton, but he made a satisfactory return to the saddle when second aboard Suburban Bay in the Automate Your Betting With BetAngel Beginners’ Chase. Thornton, out since December with a broken arm, gave Ballyallia Man (9-1) plenty to think about and finished a length and a quarter behind.

Aidan Coleman looked to have hurt himself when falling from Stars Du Granits in Balyallia Man’s race, but managed to compete in two more races before giving up his last two rides.

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