GRAHAM Lee has revealed his "shock" at being dropped by leading County Durham trainer Howard Johnson but insisted his status as one of Britain's top jockeys remains intact after he was immediately snapped up by Ferdy Murphy.

Ingleby Barwick-based Lee, who won the 2004 Grand National aboard Amberleigh House, has confirmed that his hugely-successful partnership with Johnson has come to an end.

The pair combined to land a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick last year - all on horses owned by millionaire owner Graham Wylie - but saw their fortunes plummet last season as Johnson's Crook yard was struck by a virus.

Lee was told he was not being retained at the start of the week, just hours before Johnson asked Paddy Brennan to be his replacement.

But, within a day of being released, the Irishman was offered a new role as stable jockey at Murphy's Leyburn yard.

Lee rode Murphy's untried novice, Cardinal Spirit, in a racecourse gallop at Ripon on Wednesday afternoon and subsequently agreed to commit himself to the popular northern trainer.

"After hearing about the approach made by Howard Johnson to Paddy Brennan I was both surprised and shocked," said Lee, who has also won a Scottish National aboard Grey Abbey. "I was also very disappointed, especially given all the successes we have had in recent seasons.

"I have always enjoyed a really good relationship with Graham Wylie and I wish Graham and Howard all the best for the future.

"I am now keen to make the most of an excellent opportunity that has been given to me by Ferdy, and I'm really looking forward to our new association.

"Ferdy is an ambitious, excellent trainer with a proven track record and a fine eye for a horse and I know I'm going to enjoy working with both Ferdy and his assistant Niall Hannity, who is a great judge, and as good as they get when it comes to placing horses.

"There will be lots of good horses to ride for Ferdy but I'll also be chasing mounts up and down the country. I'll go anywhere to maintain my position in the championship table."

Lee is yet to ride a winner in the new National Hunt season, although his participation in the early weeks of the campaign has been severely restricted by an illness that is only just beginning to recede.

"My family and I have had a virus, which hit me pretty hard," he confirmed.

"Hopefully, I'm now on my way back.

"I rode work for Ferdy (on Wednesday) and I'll be back race-riding again in the near future."

After committing himself to Murphy, Lee will now head a riding roster that also includes this year's Scottish Grand National-winning jockey Keith Mercer.

He is also joining a yard that is widely acknowledged to be one of the most progressive in the country.

Murphy enjoyed one of the biggest days of his career when he saddled a double at this year's Cheltenham Festival and boasts top-class chasers Joes Edge, Haut de Gamme, Hot Weld and Your Special at his Wynbury Stables.

"I've long been an admirer of Graham," said Murphy. "He's extremely dedicated and very much in the mould of our former stable jockey Adrian Maguire.

"We've got three or four major owners who deserve the best. We are an ambitious yard and will have 100 horses next season, but we're also looking to get more and more better quality horses into the place, so we need an established big-race jockey to ride them.

"Graham is the man we wanted but, although he will be our stable jockey, we'll be happy to release him should he ever get some good horses to ride down south.

"We have a tremendous team of young jockeys here and I hope they stay on board.

"Two years down the road, they will be at the top of the tree. Graham will be a big asset to them and an excellent mentor."