Turner denied on first ride back from injury

HAYLEY TURNER was narrowly denied a win on her first ride back after being given the all-clear by doctors to resume race-riding following a fall on the gallops in March.

Back on track: Hayley Turner

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

The jockey, whose head injuries earned her an initial one-year ban from the saddle, successfully appealed that decision on Thursday, but her luck ran out in a thrilling tussle with David Probert in the Iron Stand Winkfield Novice Stakes at Ascot.

Turner partnered the Michael Bell-trained Prompter, a son of 2005 Derby winner Motivator, and he looked to be travelling smoothly with Probert getting to work on Black Spirit of Clive Cox's.

But Probert's efforts were rewarded on the 15-2 winner who came out on top by a head.

A not too dispondent Turner said: "It's good, I feel fine. It's back to normal - like riding a bike.

"He [Prompter] ran a really good race and wasn't that green. He's very game and is something to look forward to."