Turner signed up for new broadcast but Stevenson misses out

Hayley Turner, a surprise addition to the Girls team at the Shergar Cup earlier this month, has unexpectedly landed a prized place in an even bigger team after the bosses of ITV Sport pulled a notable rabbit out of the hat by appointing the former leading rider to its new racing squad.

Turner, who retired last year as Britain's most successful female jockey, will be by far the least experienced member of an ITV cast to be fronted by ex-Sky football anchor Ed Chamberlin, assisted during the Flat season by Francesca Cumani, whose appointments had already been confirmed.

On a day of developments it emerged Rishi Persad has become the first Channel 4 broadcaster understood to have been offered a job, while it is also believed Racing UK's Oli Bell has received a similarly positive phone call.