Bryony boosted by France opportunity

Bryony Frost’s decision to move to France to pursue her horse racing career has received a major boost now that she’s been retained as first jockey by one of the leading operations on both sides of the Channel.

Frost, 29, from Buckfastleigh, recently announced that she is transferring to France, mainly because she wasn’t getting enough rides in the UK.

That’s despite 145 winners, including several major successes at the top-level, worth more than £2.2 million in prize money since turning pro seven years ago.

But now she has agreed to be the retained jockey to owners Paul Munir and Isaac Souede and their fast-growing Team Double Green stable.

“We have been patiently waiting for the right opportunity to retain our own jockey in France,” said Munir.

“Bryony’s decision to move to France has not only presented us with that opportunity, but meant that we have appointed an experienced and talented jockey.”

Frost said: “I have long admired Team Double Green and the success they have had in England, Ireland and France. I’m really excited to join them – the opportunity to ride their horses is a dream start to my career in France.”

A key factor in Frost’s move and her new job is that female jockeys in France receive a valuable 4.5lb weight allowance.

Frost has had less than 200 rides in the UK in each of the last two seasons, despite maintaining a good strike-rate of winners and retaining the faith of Paul Nicholls’ top stable and a handful of other trainers.

She rode 26 winners from 183 rides in the 2023-2024 season here.

Even Nicholls recently queried why the racing public appeared to have more confidence in her than many trainers, especially since a British Horseracing Association investigation in 2021 upheld her allegations of bullying and harassment by fellow jockey Robbie Dunne.