This week brought the news that one of the most popular National Hunt riders of recent times would depart the British racing scene to embark upon a new career in France.
Beloved by the racing public – in large part due to her partnership with the plucky Frodon – Bryony Frost’s spell at the Paul Nicholls yard brought 292 wins across a dozen seasons, including six top-level Grade 1 successes. However, the first female jockey to ride a Grade 1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival (Frodon in the 2019 edition of the Ryanair Chase) has upped sticks to take up residence at the yard of Francois Nicolle on the Atlantic coast.
Declining Opportunities the Driving Force
To the casual racing fan, Frost would appear to be one of the higher profile riders in the sport, thanks to her big-race successes, including in the 2020 King George (good old Frodon again), making this decision appear a little surprising.
However, a look at her numbers over the past couple of seasons presents a clearer picture. Between 2018/19 and 2021/22, Frost picked up an average of 295 rides per year and winning tallies of 50, 45, 47, and 43. Her number of rides for 2022/23 and 2023/24 sat at 177 and 183, seeing her winning rides decrease to 26 and 29.
Why this should be the case is easy to understand, despite Frost appearing to ride as well as ever this term. Whilst she continued to receive strong support from Paul Nicholls, her popularity with the racing public wasn’t mirrored by other trainers. This is surely, and very unfortunately, due to the stand she took in speaking out against fellow jockey Robbie Dunne.
Munir and Souede are Admirers
Bryony could scarcely have made a better start to life in France, with early May bringing the news she had been appointed as the retained French rider to billionaire owners Simon Munir and Isaac Soude – whose famous double green silks have been sported by Impaire Et Passe and El Fabiolo this season.
Frost is unlikely to get the leg up on that Willie Mullins duo, but, under the new agreement, will be the number one rider for the owner’s burgeoning operation on the other side of the Channel – an opportunity Frost is understandably excited about, with the rider stating, “I have long admired Team Double Green and the success that they have had in England, Ireland and France. I am really excited to join them, the opportunity to be retained by them to ride their horses is the dream start to my career in France.”
Simon Munir sounded equally enthusiastic about the appointment of Frost – who under French rules can claim a valuable 4lb allowance from her male counterparts in certain races – with the owner stating on X, “We have patiently been waiting for the right opportunity to retain our own jockey in France. Bryony’s decision to move to France has not only presented us with that opportunity but meant that we have appointed an experienced, talented jockey for team Double Green.”
A Dream Job, but not the Dream Start
Frost made her debut in the double green (actually green with red diamonds in France) on Wednesday 8 May, but it’s fair to say the experience could have gone better. Beating only one horse home in the Prix Miror Hurdle, worse was to follow as she was sent crashing to the turf in the Prix Pot d’Or Chase.
Very thankful to see jockey Bryony Frost up and walking after being brought down aboard Fret D’estruval in the Prix Pot D’Or at Auteuil in France. #horseracing #France #Auteuil @FrostRacingClub pic.twitter.com/33OAL71qSQ
— Art Martineau (@rebelsart) May 8, 2024
Thankfully both Bryony and her mount, Fret D’Estruval, escaped unscathed and, with that 4lb allowance a major advantage for such a talented rider, no doubt much brighter days lie ahead.