Pokfulham tipped to give Graham Lee first winner on level (From York Press)

Pokfulham tipped to give Graham Lee first winner on level

11:22am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Horse racing By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Graham Lee, re-inventing himself as a Flat jockey after a hugely successful career over jumps, can notch his first winner under his new code at Musselburgh tomorrow.

Lee, spotted on riding work at Malton this week, has scaled some heady heights under National Hunt rules, winning the Grand National on Amberleigh House, and the Scottish National on Grey Abbey and enjoying a handful of Cheltenham Festival winners, including the ultra popular Inglis Drever.

Lee has suffered more than his share of injuries pursuing his jumping dream and it was after a nasty fall earlier this year, which dislocated his hip, that he began to seriously think about switching to the Flat. Always a lightweight over jumps, he is even lighter now as he gets to grips with the Flat scene.

Jim Goldie, for whom Lee rode plenty of winners over fences and hurdles, provides the jockey with a winning chance on the level at Musselburgh in the shape of Pokfulham in the Au Revoir Colin Shand Handicap.

A winner last season and a consistent performer, Pokfulham should have derived considerable benefit from his re-appearance at Newcastle three weeks ago when he finished third. He should go well with that run under his belt and is napped to break the ice for Lee.

Nawton trainer David O’Meara has good prospects of winning the Dalkin D1 Installer Handicap with Powerful Presence, the mount of Danny Tudhope.

The ex-Irish gelding has been a good servant to O’Meara in the last 18 months and was a winner of his latest race on Fibresand at Southwell. He is also effective on turf, as he proved last season, and, off a 2lb higher mark, he can follow up.

Middleham trainer Jedd O’Keeffe has a couple of winning chances. O’Keeffe, whose small string is in good heart, has a particularly nice juvenile debutante in Dream Ally in the Strides Ahead At RZ Group Maiden Stakes. A son of Oasis Dream, he looked a most striking individual when I saw him at last month’s Middleham Open Day, and O’Keeffe has high hopes for him. He may not be tuned up first time out, but he is not one to dismiss lightly in any case.

Satanic Beat is another potential O’Keeffe winner in the semichem.co.uk Handicap.

He ran a fine first race of the season to finish third at Ripon and will strip fitter this time.

Tony Hamilton rides the O’Keeffe duo.

At Wolverhampton, Discression is selected to draw first blood for North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan in the wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Maiden Stakes.

Although he was slightly disappointing on his re-appearance at Warwick last month when finishing fifth after starting favourite, Discression showed a useful level of ability in two outings last season and has a handicap rating of 80. He is worth another chance.

The speedy Courageous can also go well for Ryan in the Download Our iPhone App Handicap. The sprinter finished a respectable fifth on his recent reappearance at Beverley. Darryll Holland rides.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison joined forces successfully with Kieren Fallon at Ripon on Saturday with Memory Cloth and the pair team up again with Mawjoodah in the Like Us On Facebook Wolverhampton Racecourse Handicap.

The gelding is worth a second look.

racing selections

Musselburgh (tomorrow)
2.00 Phoenix Clubs, 2.30 Dream Ally, 3.00 Satanic Beat, 3.30 Judicious, 4.00 Powerful Presence, 4.30 Pokfulham (NAP), 5.00 Pulsatilla.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
2.10 Discression, 2.40 Sholaan, 3.15 Final Delivery, 3.40 Mawjoodah, 4.10 Courageous, 4.40 Ishikawa, 5.10 Douze Points, 5.40 Harrys Yer Man.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Bangor, Chepstow and Fontwell.

Today’s meetings: Brighton, Hereford, Lingfield and Musselburgh.