"IT'S topped off an unbelievable season. It can't get any better than this. It's the best day of my life by a long, long way and I'll probably never experience anything like it again."

So said Graham Lee, the Teesside jockey who has shot to prominence this season with riding the Howard Johnson-trained big money string put together by the Crook trainer for Graham and Andrea Wylie.

Of course, we have known what a good young horseman he was for many years before that - and on Saturday it was a real horseman's ride to win the Grand National on Amberleigh House for Ginger McCain.

The trainer had, of course, made his name by training Red Rum to his three wins at Aintree in the Seventies. Twenty-seven years later, Lee handed him his fourth win in the race with a craftsman's patient ride.

The jockey explained that, at the start, "it all went pear-shaped" and he had been hampered by loose horses and the rest on the first circuit. Those of us who watched him creeping closer and closer and then shouting him on as he kept straight as a die at the Elbow, to pass the tiring Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury, were thrilled for the young man who has made his home at Ingleby Barwick.

Lee had begun the meeting in fine fashion for trainer Brian Ellison, winning the Martell Cognac Beefeater Restaurants Handicap Hurdle, the Listed event, on Zibeline on Thursday.

This was Ellison's first win at Liverpool, "a huge thrill." He described his winner as a potential Arkle horse of the future, but in the meantime, is eyeing the Northumberland Plate and an Epsom race on the level.

Aintree was also the story of nearly-theres. Lee partnered the Wylies' Royal Rosa to be second in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on the first day.

David Easterby's Sikander A Azam gave amateur Tom Greenall a good second in the Fox Hunters' Chase on Thursday, but no-one could crib the winner, Carrie Ford, just ten weeks after having a baby, winning on Forest Gunner. Mrs Ford was just the third woman to win this amateurs' event over the National fences.

On Friday, Patriarch Express (15 to Follow, Geoff Harker) looked every inch the winner in the Sefton, only to fade late, perhaps not staying the extra half-mile. Fifth, and in the prize money, crowned a good season for this useful novice - more may come over a shorter trip than this three and a half miles.

Mary Reveley, who played a large part in Graham Lee's early days in the north, won the bumper (National Hunt flat) race on Saturday at Aintree, a Grade 2 event, as Diamond Sal beat Young Scotton (Kevin Ryan) in a duel to the line. Fergus King had the ride.

This was the trainer's 2,000th victory in Britain, but no announcement of retirement has been made.

October Mist, her useful hurdler, whose new chasing career has been patchy, returned to the Flat at Newcastle and gave her a daily double, scoring under Seb Sanders.

Mrs Reveley is hors de combat at present, having trod on a nail, so she was at neither meeting to mark her remarkable record.

Lee, who does not drink, was out fresh again on Sunday to ride at Hexham, where he took a double, for Brian Ellison and Malcolm Jefferson.

Bryan Smart scooped the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at the Curragh that afternoon with Monsieur Bond. Fergal Lynch had the ride, but on Monday was back in more lowly circles at Southwell, winning for Michael Dods, who has started the turf season well.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Thursday last week. - Aintree NH: Zibeline (trained by B Ellison, at Norton; owned by A Carr), ridden by G Lee.

Friday. - Southwell AW: Rust En Vrede (D Carroll, Warthill; A Mann), Miss D Allman (claiming 7lbs allowance); Nova Tor (P Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing III), R Moore (7); On The Trail (D Chapman, Stillington; J M Chapman), T Culhane.

Saturday. - Aintree NH: Diamond Sal (M Reveley, Lingdale; R Haggas), F King (5).

Newcastle: Archie Babe (J Quinn, Setrrington; Bowett Lamb & Kelly), K Darley; Tidy (M Hammond, Middleham; P Davies & L Crowther), D Williams; October Mist (M Reveley; Mrs E A Murray), S Sanders.

Sunday. - Curragh, Ireland: Monsieur Bond (B Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), F Lynch.

Hexham NH: Mister Arjay (B Ellison; K Middleton), G Lee; Rosie Redman (J Turner, Norton-le-Clay; Miss S J Turner), D O'Meara (3); The Nomad (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; S Brewer, D Sugars & B Parker), A Dempsey; Dewasentah (M Jefferson, Norton; Mrs J U Hales Mrs L M Joicey), G Lee.

Monday. - Southwell (mixed turf & AW): Habitual Dancer (J O'Keeffe, Coverham; The Country Stayers), P Hanagan; Balakiref (M Dods, Piercebridge; Septimus Racing Group), F Lynch.

Kelso NH: Sound Of Cheers (F Kirby, Danby Wiske; F Kirby), K Johnson; Fairy Skin Maker (G Harker, Wensley; The Four S), N Hannitty (3).

Tuesday. - Lingfield AW: Somerset West (L Stubbs, Malton; trainer), D O'Neill.

Pontefract: Benbyas (D Carroll; Homebred (HB), C H Stephenson & Partners), D Tudhope (5); Marabar (D Chapman; Miss N F Thesiger), T Culhane; Winged D'Argent (M Johnston, Middleham; Hb, D A Couper), J Fanning; Akash (M Johnston; M Graf), J Fanning; Green 'N' Gold (M Hammond; E Whalley), P Hanagan; Capetown Girl (K Burke, Wensley; Danum Racing), G Faulkner.

Wednesday. - Warwick: She's Our Lass (D Carroll; We-Know Partnership), R Fitzpatrick; Distant Times (T Easterby, Great Habton; Hb, Times of Wigan), K Darley