09 March 2024 , 11:20
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A jockey has described how advice from Graham Lee inspired him to ride a 66-1 winner at Newcastle.
Billy Garritty said his former weighing room colleague and friend had given some helpful hints ahead of the BetMGM: It's Showtime Maiden Fillies' Stakes on Friday evening.
Making her racecourse debut for trainer Micky Hammond, the rank outsider was ridden positively and led a furlong from the finish to cause a huge shock.
Garritty told how Lee, who suffered life-changing injuries in a fall at the track in November, had faith in the Harry Angel filly.
"I feel a bit emotional winning on her," he said in an interview with At The Races.
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"Graham Lee came to ride her last year and said he would be available when she runs. He really liked her and gave us the instructions to hold onto her and let her work into the race - that she will do her best work at the end.
"And he was right. I could imagine him watching it, shouting at me at the half (furlong) pole as I'd probably let her go too soon!"
Garritty, whose father Russ and brother Jack have ridden competitively, added: "Graham was probably the best jockey I have ever ridden against. What he did over jumps was fantastic and he was up there with Ruby Walsh, AP McCoy – they feared him and he was in the north of England. He was exceptional on the Flat. too.
"He's a great man and is doing really well at the moment, my dad has been to see him and a couple of the jockeys. We've got to keep behind him and his family."
Lee, 48, has been in hospital since he suffered an unstable cervical fracture in a stalls incident on November 10.
This week he was pictured alongside ex-Channel 4 Racing presenter and commentator Derek Thomson at the James Cook facility in Middlesbrough.
Thomson said he had asked the rider of 2004 Grand National winner Amberleigh House if he would join him on next year's Cheltenham Festival preview circuit.
“He said he has hardly watched any racing because he would probably miss it," Thomson added. "But he said he is very much looking forward to watching Cheltenham which is good news.”
The four-day Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, when the feature Unibet Champion Hurdle is run for a first prize of £262,078.