Hayley Turner

Not only is Hayley Turner considered as one of the best jockeys of her generation, she is also seen as an inspiration to female sportswomen and has led the way for a string of female jockeys who have gone to ride hundreds of winners in the last 10 years. She is a three-time Group 1 winner with successes in 2011 with Dream Ahead in the July Cup at Newmarket and repeated the trick later that year in the Nunthorpe at York when Margot Did landed the Group 1 prize for Michael Bell.

A year later, Turner won a first international Group 1 in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington with I’m A Dreamer for David Simcock. She would retire at the end of 2015 but made a return in 2017 and claimed arguably her biggest prize at Royal Ascot 2019.

She became the first female since Gay Kellaway back in 1987 to win a race at Royal Ascot when landing the Sandringham Stakes on Thanks Be for Charlie Fellowes.

Turner also won the Apprentice title in 2004 and became the first female to win 100 races in a calendar year in 2008.

Dream Ahead – July Cup (2011)

Hayley Turner’s maiden Group 1 came with her solitary ride on Dream Ahead in the July Cup at Newmarket. Having previously been beaten by Frankel over a mile on his previous start, he was dropped back in trip and it did the trick, quickening up smartly to win by half a length despite hanging in the final stages.

Margot Did – Nunthorpe Stakes (2011)

Only a month after claiming the July Cup, Turner claimed a second Group 1 on board Margot Did in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. While Dream Ahead was fancied, this three-year-old was a 20/1 outsider but had a dream passage, tracking Hamish McGonagall into the race before being pulled out for a run and hanging on under pressure in the final stages to win by just under a length.

I’m A Dreamer – Beverly D. Stakes (2012)

Having previously been beaten in four attempts at Grade 1 level, I’m A Dreamer was sent over to America to compete in the Beverly D. Stakes. It was one of Turner’s finest rides as she settled the mare towards the rear before pulling her wide in the last two furlongs. When doing so, she picked up gamely to lead in the final 100 yards and clung on by a head over Marketing Mix and Julien Leparoux.

Happy Hiker – 3yo (Michael Bell)

This unexposed three-year-old could make up into a Stakes filly for the Michael Bell team. Having been relatively unfancied in her first two starts, she was beaten by Star Catcher and Fanny Logan who have since proven to be decent yardsticks. On her third and most recent run, she was highly impressive to land a Newmarket novice event and earn an RPR rating of 83 in the process. With Listed and Group entries, she could be one to watch in fillies only races as we approach the end of the flat campaign.

Thanks Be – 3yo (Charlie Fellowes)

This Royal Ascot winner looks to have been let in slightly off a handicap mark of 90, going up just 6lb for that neck victory at the Royal meeting. With a strongly-run mile looking like optimum conditions for the three-year-old, Thanks Be will no doubt be aimed at plenty of big field handicaps between now and the end of the season. The Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on British Champions’ Day appeals most at this early stage.

Ripp Orf – 5yo (David Elsworth)

One of Turner’s higher rated horses, Ripp Orf for David Elsworth has been a solid handicapper over the last year and could be ready to strike again. Having started the season off a mark of 98, he has fallen down to what could be a workable mark of 93 despite finishing a decent fifth in the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May. With his last success coming at Ascot off 93 in September 2018, the International Stakes at the same track looks appealing as a betting proposition.

Barristan The Bold – 3yo (Tom Dascombe)

Named after Game of Thrones character Barristan Selmy, this unexposed three-year-old for the Tom Dascombe looks to have more than his fair share of ability. His last run at Chester was very encouraging, finishing second despite being drawn out in stall 5, with the first, third and fourth all drawn inside him. Another seven-furlong handicap could be the key to success for this gelding.

We will have selections from our team of tipsters throughout every big race meeting HERE.

Riding a 33/1 outsider, Hayley Turner and Thanks Be were relatively unfancied to end the Royal Ascot hoodoo for female jockeys, with Gay Kellaway the previous winner at the Royal meeting back in 1987.

Having been held up initially, Thanks Be was ridden along to improve but was hampered when passing beaten horses. However, the gaps came at just the right time and she ran on powerfully and saw off the late challenges of James Doyle’s Magnetic Charm for William Haggas and The Queen.

After success in the race, Turner said: “The girls' changing rooms are full now.

"It was only a matter of time. It is certainly overdue and the girls have been doing so well since I first started riding to the standard they are now.

"Everyone is like, 'why are no girls winning', but numbers are rising and it will happen in time. It does mean a lot and the whole girl thing, it is just going to get better and better for them.

"Nothing is going to happen overnight, but if you look at this in 10 years' time I bet a lot more girls have done it. It will become a common thing and the media won't care that much, as it will become normal."

Although Turner’s net worth is unclear, since January 2015 she has made her owners in the UK over £1.3 million in prize money, with £750,000 of that being winnings. That as well as her victories in Ireland and France mean her winnings in the last five seasons will be close to £2 million.

Michael Bell provides Hayley Turner with plenty of rides in recent years including her 2011 Group 1 winner Margot Did. Charlie Fellowes, Marcus Tregoning and David Elsworth are also notable trainers for whom Turner rides. She occasionally picks up spare rides for Saeed Bin Suroor’s Godolphin team.