Lee to switch to Flat Grand National-winning rider Graham Lee is looking forward to a new career on the Flat after the shock announcement he is to switch codes. Lee landed the world's most famous steeplechase in 2004 on the Ginger McCain-trained Amberleigh House, and rode five Cheltenham Festival winners, including a treble in 2005 on Inglis Drever, No Refuge and Arcalis. Lee, 36, cited weight issues as the primary reason for his decision, in that he has always found it a struggle to put on enough weight to ride over jumps. Currently sidelined after a heavy fall at Southwell on February 15, Lee told Racing UK: "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 taken a stone off in just over five weeks. "I love riding over jumps and I always have done. "I got a fall at Huntingdon in 2008 and suffered quite a bad head injury. I actually thought about it then, because I had to work so hard at being a stone above my fighting weight. "But when that fall occurred I was second to AP (McCoy) in the championship, who was off with a broken back at the time. "I was 20 (winners) behind him and that was the main reason why I came back, because I was dreaming of a championship. "I got back in the gym and got all the weight back on and went back jumping. "Then last December I broke my collarbone and was parked up on the sofa for a couple of weeks. Then when that started to heal, I got back in the gym, got the weight back on again and then I had the fall in Southwell. "I can't really face the gym to get a stone back on me, so I'm going to go Flat racing." Looking back at the National, Lee said: "That was an amazing day. When I watch it, it's like looking at someone else. "It's never really sunk in and probably won't until I've packed in and I'm watching the Grand National with my children and my grandchildren. "I've been very fortunate to win a National, I was top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005 and I've won a Scottish National and a Whitbread (Bet365 Gold Cup). They were great, great days. "But the great days that I've had are in the past and we live in the future. I'm so focussed on what I'm going to have a go at." He added: "I've been in contact throughout this injury with Dr Turner (British Horseracing Authority chief medical advisor) and he said last night that as long as my recovery keeps going as it's going, I should be back in the last week of April." Lee's boss, Ferdy Murphy, said: "Graham was in the yard on Sunday and it's an absolute no-brainer for him. "He has always had a light frame and had to do a lot of work in the gym to keep the weight on. He had to build up a lot of hard muscle. "He's been a great man to work with and has been fantastic for the yard. "We had Adrian Maguire before him and both of them are legends. "It's obviously a relief for him and it's a big disappointment for the yard. "I'm not going to do anything stupid. We're near the end of the season now and I'll speak to my owners." Group One winner Jim Crowley is the most recognisable of the recent examples of jump jockeys reverting to the level. He said: "Graham rode on the Flat as an apprentice before he became a jump jockey and I'm sure he'll pick it up again fairly quickly. "I used to ride with him a lot and I speak to him from time to time. I hadn't heard the news and I suppose I'm a bit surprised as I thought he'd be a bit heavy but that's clearly not the case. "He's quite small for a jump jockey and a very neat and tidy rider. "There's quite a few of us around now who have made the change, so it's good news." Top jumps rider Richard Johnson wished Lee well in his new role. He said: "His weight has always been fantastic, so it makes perfect sense really. "He's had wretched luck with injuries over the last few years so it will be great to see him back in the saddle. "I wish him the very best of luck as he's a top man."
