by No stretch of grass in British racing (or perhaps in the sport as a whole) delivers last-gasp drama as reliably as the uphill run from the final fence to the finish line at Cheltenham. The climax of the December Gold Cup on Saturday proved the point once again, when Fugitif was at least four lengths from last and caught Il Ridoto in the shadow of the post.
But while the spectacular finish in the last split second of the race grabbed the headlines, the previous 511 seconds were also a spectacle. Bryony Frost ended up, albeit barely, as the loser of the day, but her performance in Il Ridoto was the best defeat you can imagine.
Related: Fugitif fights home to make Hobson happy in Cheltenham
Many observers, including this one, felt that Frost had surely set off too quickly for Il Ridoto. But that was forgetting that he has few peers when it comes to settling a horse and jumping confidently in front, and then judging the correct pace with astonishing precision.
Frost played a leading role in one of the most memorable afternoons at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years, guiding the hugely popular Frodon to great success in the Grade One Ryanair Chase in March 2019, and has been one of the most familiar names of National Hunt since then. . Major wins on his record include the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2020, among six wins at the highest level in total.
However, it has been just over two years since the British Horseracing Authority’s independent disciplinary panel decided that Frost’s fellow jockey, Robbie Dunne, had subjected her to a prolonged campaign of harassment and intimidation, both within and off the track.
Dunne was initially banned from cycling for 18 months, which was reduced to 10 months on appeal. He returned to action, with a winner, in October 2022, and the 2022-23 season proved to be one of the best of his career, taking wins and prize money of £221,000 from 207 races.
However, Frost’s career over the past two years hasn’t exactly picked up where he left off. A serious back injury in a fall in April 2022 kept her out for six months, and although she led Knappers Hill to victory in a Grade Two steeplechase in April this year, she has not competed once. in a Bachelor’s degree since then.
A layoff of several months, for whatever reason, can put a damper on any driver’s career, as the day-to-day racing world moves quickly without them.
Frost’s back injury, for example, coincided with the emergence of Freddie Gingell, a talented young conditioner, who has received many rides from Paul Nicholls, Frost’s staunchest supporter throughout his career. Gingell is worth every ounce of his 5lb, so it’s only natural that the champion trainer will use him as much as possible while he can still get weight from the older riders.
Frodon, Frost’s old ally, is also in the twilight of his career. Frost claimed 5lb when she first boarded Frodon in December 2017, and quickly made him her own when other trainers or owners might have replaced her with the No. 1 stable. For any jockey outside the small elite with a big salary, a horse like that it’s almost impossible to replace.
But Frost’s memorable near-miss at Il Ridoto also came hot on the heels of the British Horseracing Authority admitting last week that more needs to be done to ensure racing is a safe and supportive environment for its workforce. and their women. workers in particular.
Falkham 12.10 Bennettsbridge 12.40 good for her 1.10 Fresh cream 1.40 sir sparkling 2.10 sergeant wilson 2.40 Georges San 3.10 Little tantrum
Wincanton 12.20 Lindisfarne 12.50 Non-stop 1.20 thunder lord 1.50 arc light 2.20 Little Tetley 2.50 hallway rail 3.20 Javert Allen (nb) 3.50 Poet’s reflection
Catterick Bridge 12.30 Rock Dragon 1.00 Climate precedent 1.30 Take center stage 2.00 Soldier of destiny 2.30 just jess 3.00 ribeye 3.30 Strong foundations
Wolverhampton 5.00 Alazwar 5.30 Bur Dubai 6.00 revolution 6.30 Higher Law 7.00 Not too bad 7.30 Eagle Day (nap) 8.00 Dipinta Moon 8.30 Ultramarine
A survey of 140 women employed in the industry by Dr Eleanor Boden, a PhD researcher at Durham University, found that “sexual misconduct and gender stereotypes can remain unchallenged or be accepted as ‘jokes’”, that “attitudes towards pregnancy and motherhood can be an obstacle to career development”, and also that some young women “have felt the need to leave the industry because they do not believe they belong or will not have the opportunity to achieve their potential” .
The survey, together with the fact that the BHA had received and investigated 350 safeguarding concerns since 2018 – “a high proportion of which relate to sexual misconduct, bullying and abusive behaviour” – confirmed the need for urgent action. Plans announced last week include better education at all levels of the sport, better reporting mechanisms and an industry-wide awareness campaign.
“On behalf of British racing, I apologize unreservedly to anyone who has experienced harm and unacceptable behaviour,” said BHA Chairman Joe Saumarez Smith. “I also want to thank those who shared their stories and provided powerful personal testimony. We are sorry and will work aggressively to resolve this issue.
“There is no place in British racing for sexual misconduct, harassment or any form of discrimination or conduct that makes people feel inferior, inadequate or excluded.”
Few careers are as vulnerable to the whims of chance, for better or worse, as that of a National Hunt jockey. As such, it cannot be said with certainty that Frost is paying a price for his bravery in reporting a bully at his workplace.
At the same time, however, her ride on Il Ridoto showed that her natural ability as a runner has not diminished. There are few current jump jockeys with a single Grade One victory to their name, let alone half a dozen, so the longer Frost’s fight for regular starts in top races continues, the stranger it will seem.
