11 April 2024 , 16:48
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Bryony Frost came in from the cold to ride a long overdue big race winner at Aintree on Thursday.
The Cheltenham Festival and King George VI Chase-winning jockey has found rides so hard to come by lately that she has talked of spending the summer riding in France. She has no rides on Grand National day and had only had two in April before she was legged up on the Paul Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit.
But she made the most of the opportunity to steer the French import to an all the way win in the £100,000 Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase. “It’s just awesome,” she said. “I’m chuffed. I’ve got an Aintree winner. My normal strike rate is going home with blue lights from this meeting.
“Sure rides have been a bit scarce on the ground but you’ve got to make the most of your opportunities when they come to you. That’s what I’ve kept doing, head down, keep kicking.”
She added: "For me there is a frustration when you feel you have so much to offer, but you can only deal with the opportunities you are getting. Today I was given the opportunity by the home team, and Sans Bruit’s owners, and it is just fantastic to give them a big winner when they have the confidence to give you that opportunity.
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“I was riding at 10st 2lbs, and I missed breakfast to do it, but it paid off. You give me the ammunition and I will make it happen.
Bryony Frost: celebrates victory in the Red Rum Chase (PA)"I’m buzzing as we have got a big win. There have been parts of the season where it has been like pushing water up the hill, but you can’t sit down and cry about it.
“I’m not riding this Saturday, and there is frustration of course there is, as you are in the game to win, and you want to ride, and be out there, but there is nothing you can do about it but just work hard."
With 23 winners this season, Frost has six fewer than last term, which was her lowest score in six campaigns.
Nicholls said: “Bryony probably doesn’t get the opportunities she deserves in Britain; it’s hard for her but not just for Bryony, there are lots of good jockeys who don’t get all the opportunities.
"Obviously Harry [Cobden] is our first jockey, and I’d encourage her to go to France, as she’s suggested, and go from May until October, get rides, we’re not going to be busy, and come back in October. She can use that allowance and it can only be good for her."