HAYLEY Turner had to be content with second place on her final ride at a British racecourse at Doncaster yesterday.

The 32-year-old looked set for a dream success when Buonarotti hit the front with a couple of furlongs to run in the feature Betfred November Handicap, only for top weight Litigant swept through to claim the prize and spoil the party.

However, Turner said: "The horse ran a blinder. Declan [Carroll, trainer] really fancied him before the race so he gave me plenty of confidence.

"I did [think I might win] but when George (Baker, Litigant's jockey] came past me like that, I thought he would do well to hang on for second and he did and kept going. There's no tears – I feel all right about it."

Carroll supplied Turner with her first mount in 2000. He said: "She gave the horse a super ride. They were beaten by a very good horse today. We're pleased and I'm pleased that Hayley is getting out in one piece. She's a top rider. She is very brave, she has a lot of bottle and good hands.

Turner bows out with 761 winners to her credit and boasts some notable firsts on her record, including the distinction of being the only woman to win a British Group One race outright following Dream Ahead's July Cup success in 2011.

She added: "These aren't my last ever rides as I'm flying out to South Africa on Monday for a jockeys' challenge with Rab Havlin and Pat Cosgrave."

Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson could not hide his delight as Simonsig and Bobs Worth made their belated comebacks in the Betfred Hurdle at Aintree.

All eyes were on Simonsig, who was having his first start since winning the 2013 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, but Bobs Worth (11-1) took the honours in a tight finish.

Nico De Boinville made full use of Bobs Worth's stamina on the rain-softened ground and the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero got home a length and a half to the good.

Henderson said: "It's been a long way back for both of them from the wilderness, but we've made a bit of progress.

"Simonsig was fantastic. Barry [Geraghty] said he got tired turning in, he was empty at the second last and he had to hang on to him.

"It was probably a bit far for him in that ground, but Bobs Worth stays. The idea was to get a run into him before the Hennessy but we haven't got a plan for Simonsig yet."

Venetia Williams gained compensation for the narrow defeat of Royal Palladium in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton when Pepite Rose (10-1) took the Betfred 'Scoop6Soccer' Handicap Chase by 10 lengths from Ballygarvey under Liam Treadwell.