Racing: Graham Lee is free to resume his partnership with Amberleigh House in the John Smith's Grand National tomorrow week after it was revealed that Grey Abbey will bypass the Aintree spectacular.
Lee rode Amberleigh House when he won the four-and-a-half-mile marathon last year, but he faced a difficult decision as boss Howard Johnson's Grey Abbey was also entered in the race.
However, Johnson has ruled out the 11-year-old after Lee schooled him over Aintree-type fences at his County Durham stable yesterday.
"After the way he schooled on Thursday morning Howard made the decision that he didn't think the National was the right for him," said Johnson's daughter, Lucy Forbes.
"He appeared to be a bit scared of the fences and jumped a bit low and was concerned that he wasn't going to get round, so he's made the decision for Graham. Howard doesn't think he's a National horse and he doesn't want the horse to cause himself any injury."
Grey Abbey could still run at Aintree with the Betfair Bowl over the Mildmay fences an option while the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National, which he won last season, is another possibility.
Lee partnered the 13-year-old Amberleigh House in his first three starts this term and he also rode the horse in a serious schooling session at Haydock on Sunday. Amberleigh House is one of the leading fancies for the big race on April 9th and is as low as 9 to 1 with Coral to give trainer Ginger McCain a record fifth success in the race.
Meanwhile, support for Stanleybet Lincoln favourite New Seeker strengthened yesterday following the draw ceremony for tomorrow's big handicap at Doncaster. Clive Cox's five-year-old, winner of the Britannia Handicap and Tote International two seasons ago, is now a general 5 to 1 chance from 6 to 1 for the first leg of the "spring double".
New Seeker's saddle cloth number was fourth out and Timeform director Jim McGrath picked stall 21, close to the stands' rail, at the ceremony when high numbers were the first to be snapped up. Paddy Power believe a high number will prevail and the Irish bookmakers go 10 to 11 about the winner being drawn between stall 13 and 22.
Five-times world darts champion Eric Bristow was on hand to draw the saddle cloth numbers and first out was the Philip Mitchell-trained Forever Free and the Epsom handler's representative John Murray went for the stand rail position of 22.
That set the trend with the next three out going for 19, 20 and 21 respectively. But not all the fancied runners are drawn high as Divine Gift will go from six, Stream Of Gold from 13 and St Petersburg will race from five.
Stream Of Gold was 15th out of the hat and Racing Post journalist Tom O'Ryan went for 13, having been instructed by trainer Michael Stoute to go as high as possible. Kieren Fallon's mount, Resplendent One, was the first to head for the far side and Terry Mills' charge will race from stall one. Fallon looked like being without a ride when his intended mount Zero Tolerance was ruled out.
