Graham Lee 'has made positive progress' as doctors look at moving jockey closer to home

Graham Lee is reported by doctors at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary to have made "positive progress" over the last 24 hours and has been able to talk to his family.

The latest bulletin was issued seven days on from a fall at Newcastle that has left 47-year-old Lee with serious neck and spinal injuries.

A statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund read: "Graham has made positive progress in the last 24 hours and has been able to talk normally with his family for short periods when his ventilator is turned down.

"He's been reviewed by his spinal consultant and when a bed becomes available in the ITU at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, he will be transferred closer to home. Graham and his family want to thank everyone for their continued and overwhelming support."

Lee underwent surgery on Tuesday to stabilise the fractures in his cervical spine and further protect his spinal cord, while doctors also performed a tracheotomy to help him with communication.

More than 3,000 individual donations have been made to a JustGiving page launched by Lee's daughter Amy, which has raised more than £125,000.

Alpha Delphini (yellow): Graham Lee lands the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in 2018Credit: John Grossick

Lee was unseated from Ben Macdui at Newcastle last Friday evening and Amy Lee has described the response to her appeal for funds to help in her father's recovery as "simply overwhelming".

The jockey has been based for most of his professional career in North Yorkshire, riding 1,000 winners over jumps before switching to the Flat in 2012.

He holds the rare distinction of having won a Grand National, on the Ginger McCain-trained Amberleigh House in 2004, as well as Flat Group 1s on Trip To Paris in the 2015 Ascot Gold Cup and on Alpha Delphini in the 2018 Nunthorpe.

To donate to the JustGiving page for Graham Lee and the IJF, click here

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