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From Paris with love: Hayley Turner returns from suspension at Wolverhampton

Hayley turner: big-race winner
Hayley Turner: back in action at Wolverhampton tonightCredit: Edward Whitaker

5.45 WolverhamptonBetway Casino Handicap | 1m1½f | ATR

She's been forced to swap metropolitan Paris for the industrial West Midlands but Hayley Turner is just happy to be back.

Britain's most successful female jockey returns from suspension on board Road To Dubai on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening, as a problem with her paperwork prevented an intended comeback at Chantilly on Thursday.

"I was meant to be riding in France but I couldn't get my licence sorted in time," she said. "I'll probably ride over there on Tuesday now.

"So I'm keeping it real by going to Wolverhampton! I'm really looking forward to it."

Turner, 35, is keen to resume a career as a full-time jockey, having been banned for three months last December because of bets she placed on an account she had opened after she retired from riding in 2015. At the time she still held a professional licence.

She will continue to be based in France, where female jockeys receive a weight allowance, and has worked hard on her fitness during her enforced layoff.

"I've trained really hard," she continued. "I've been in the gym every day but you can't beat actually riding.

"I nipped over to America for two and a half weeks and they train really differently over there, you ride six every morning so that certainly helped.

"Nothing's going to happen quickly but you've got to start from the beginning again and I'll see how it goes."

Road To Dubai goes into Saturday's £11,500 1m1½f handicap on a hat-trick, having won under Turner at Redcar and Windsor last October.

"George Scott put me on him last year because he thought I'd get on with him," the jockey said. "His confidence has built up and he's an exciting horse for this year whatever happens tomorrow. He'll come on for the run – as will I!

"I rode him work the other day and he's going well but he's not revved up to the max because it's a long season and George is hoping to get his rating up high enough to go to Ascot."

Two of Road To Dubai's rivals return from absences that dwarf Turner's – Tenor has not raced since contesting the 2015 Royal Hunt Cup some 1,004 days ago, while Greatest Journey has his first outing in 1,050 days, as he was last seen at the 2015 Guineas meeting.


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David CarrReporter

Published on 16 March 2018inPreviews

Last updated 18:33, 16 March 2018

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