Jimmy Lambe has secured the services of last year’s winning jockey Graham Lee for Sir Ector in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.

Lee rode winners in his days as jumps jockey for the County Armagh trainer and Lambe is delighted to renew the association on the Flat.

He is hoping Lee, who lifted the highly-prized two-mile handicap on Tominator for Jonjo O’Neill in 2013, can repeat the trick on Sir Ector.

Water has been applied to the Newcastle track ahead of their three-day meeting.

A settled spell of weather over the has dried the going out to good to firm, firm in places.