Horse racing: Bradburne set to step aside

THERE were two major announcements in National Hunt racing yesterday as Fife trainer Sue Bradburne revealed she will call time on her 24-year career at the end of this season to become assistant and consultant to near-neighbour Nick Alexander, while Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee is to switch to riding full-time on the Flat.

Bradburne’s most recognisable horse was Blue Charm, who was second to Bobbyjo in the 1999 Grand National, with other useful performers for the stable being General Chandos, Interim Lib, Off The Bru, On the Hooch and Sharp Reply. Although predominantly a National Hunt handler, she also won the 2008 Cumberland Plate with Lochiel.

Bradburne, 63, is part of a racing dynasty with her husband Johnny, daughter Lorna and recently-retired son Mark all having ridden winners under Rules.

“I have been so lucky over the years to have had great owners and some wonderful horses,” she said. “Obviously it feels like the end of an era, but I am really excited about joining the team at Nick’s and our various meetings have established that we have a very similar approach to training and horses.” Bradburne will not be travelling far, as it is only 15 miles from Cunnoquhie Cottage in Ladybank to Alexander’s yard near Glenrothes.

Alexander said: “I am delighted that Sue and her owners have shown this confidence in me and the team here at Kinneston.

“I am sure that the arrival of such an attractive bunch of young horses will enable us to accelerate the progress we have made over the last few years.

“Sue’s experience will prove invaluable as she has succeeded at the highest level and another pair of eyes and hands will come in very useful.”

Bradburne says all her owners are keen to continue their link and Cunnoquhie will also continue to operate as a satellite yard.

Lee meanwhile, speaking on Racing UK, cited weight issues as the primary reason for the switch, in that he has always found it a struggle to put on enough weight to ride over jumps. The winner of the National in 2004 on the Ginger McCain-trained Amberleigh House, Lee has ridden five Cheltenham Festival winners, including a treble on Inglis Drever, No Refuge and Arcalis in 2005. Lee, currently sidelined after a fall at Southwell on 15 February, said: “I’m going to concentrate on riding on the Flat.

“I’ve always had to work very hard keeping weight on me with training and it’s just fallen off me since the latest fall that I took at Southwell. I got home from the hospital and I was 9st 12lb and I got on the scales this morning and I was 8st 12lb, so I’ve took a stone off in just over five weeks.” I can’t really face the gym to get a stone back on me, so I’m going to go Flat racing.”

Despite all the falls, Lee, 36, insists a full retirement from the saddle never crossed his mind. He said: “There is no way in the world am I ready to give up.”

Lee’s agent Richard Hale will continue to represent the jockey on the Flat.

• Entries for the Coral Scottish Grand National will be published on Tuesday, 3 April.