Hayley Turner has been cleared to return to the saddle following a British Horseracing Authority medical panel review.

The leading female rider had been facing a year on the sidelines after suffering head injuries in a fall on the gallops in March. After initially being told not to reapply for a licence until next year, Turner contested that decision and will now be allowed back into the riding ranks.

"Following a hearing of the medical review panel, having heard the latest medical reports, they have recommended that Hayley Turner be granted a licence. Therefore Hayley Turner will be free to ride from Friday." said BHA spokesman Paul Struthers.

Turner, the first woman to ride 100 winners in a calendar year in Britain, suffered the injury on March 3 when riding work for trainer Phil McEntee. Her mount, Old Sarum, broke a leg, firing her into the ground and knocking the rider unconscious.

A subsequent scan showed Turner had suffered some bruising inside her skull and the BHA's chief medical advisor, Dr Michael Turner, recommended that she be stood down for 12 months.

However, the BHA review panel have now reversed that decision following a hearing at Shaftesbury Avenue and Turner is now due to ride at Ascot on Friday. Turner is set to ride Prompter and Great Charm for boss Michael Bell at the Berkshire venue.

She said: "I am obviously over the moon with the decision and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the last few months, especially Dr Kirkpatrick and the other doctors and Justin Wadham. I would also like to thank my mother for putting up with my moods."

"I am so looking forward to riding for Michael Bell again, who has been so supportive."

Bell added: "I'm very happy with the news. It's been so frustrating for Hayley as we have had the neurosurgeons' reports recommending that she is fit to ride for three weeks but she has just been waiting for an appeal date.

"It's been frustrating to have to sit and wait but we're delighted with the decision. She's going to ride two at Ascot on Friday and she's very excited to be back where she belongs. Hopefully now it will be onwards and upwards."

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