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I’m pleased that everyone on this thread has stuck up for Bryony. My faith in humanity is restored .
Well, women are usually the most critical of other women and I adore her; she epitomises everything I love about NH racing. And is one in the eye for people who say racing people don’t care about the horses.
Here’s to women showing support for other women. And people showing support for other people generally.
I have to say that the way the English media go on about her is a bit much but that’s not her fault. She’s an excellent rider and deserves great credit but she has been put on a pedestal above Lizzie Kelly and Rachel Blackmore and it’s hard to watch. Frodon gets 10% coverage and she gets 90%. In fairness to her she gives the horse a good mention
Also, on a point of order she is NOT the first rider to ride a Grade 1 Winner at the festival. Katie Walsh won the Champion Bumper last year but it seems maybe that doesn’t count. Anyway, best of luck to her
Typical Brits!!
Build em up and try to knock em down!!
Maybe it is the cynic in me but some people don’t seem to like success unless it is theirs and I sense a jealousy running underneath some comments regarding Bryony.
Let us all take it at face value!! the stars aligned and the horse and jockey were a great match and the race was the right one to go for and she did it with a massive help from a courageous horse!!
Celebrate success and enjoy the pleasure given and taken by such events
I like her. It’s a tough sport, so why not show what it means ? Could you imagine her riding an Oaks winner then saying, “it’s not the derby though, is it” ?
Ehmm…what just happened here
It was a great ride by a very good jockey (lady or otherwise) and a
completely heart warming moment. I was beaming ear to ear, and Bryony
tried to make it anything other than about Bryony with her interview
whilst still understandably in a euphoric state after her win. I loved
her emotional loving feelings towards a horse that she has completely
clicked with. It was a moment to savour, and we could do with a few
more in the current climate
Strange the effect of success on some observers. I wonder if nationality (of the observer) is a factor.
I get the impression, for example, that Winx would arouse a thousand times the love and interest the Brits have shown had she been 2nd 31 times in a row
The longfellow said little, but filled racecourses by simply getting his horses to do the talking.
I think it is more of the fact that she is so bubbly compared to the usual demeanour of NH jockeys when they are interviewed. Obviously that is her character and not all jockeys can be like that but you always know that whenever she is interviewed you are going to get a lot more than just perfunctory answers to questions.
She always deflects to the horse being the main reason for the success and is much more engaging with her commentary (giving her horses a seemingly human best friend quality) that seems to connect so much more with the public.
It is a breath of fresh air and whilst I do think the media is grabbing on a little too tightly when running with the narative hopefully things will level out the longer she is around and winning more of these type of races to the extent that it isn’t seen as something unusual.
For me she is a female NH equivalent to Dettori.
I am stuck in a time frame and I rather like the mystery that surrounded old Stoneface. He was on an 8-1 shot once and pre-race he bent down from the horse and shook someone’s hand. I remember thinking it was a sign, and he duely won. Breasely took him on but that added to the excitement. Or was it that exciting ?- the mind does play tricks with the past often framed in a pink rose filled basket.
Byrony is a lovely gusher and we need more openness and she is very likeable and she deals with all the fawning by being herself. That may change.
I have never liked horses being stalked with media sticks. I turn all TV’s off in National Health hosoitals when I am waiting to see a white coat and even took a show of hands once. I visit churches for their sense of silence and possibly a mental chat. I often turn the volume off completely when the menace presents something watchable that is rare.
Frost is a nice name
frosty silence the game 
The longfellow said little, but filled racecourses by simply getting his horses to do the talking.
Never won by any more than he had to.
Bryony is a breath of fresh air in racing, so different to some of the miserable sods.I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysDo sometimes feel must be patronising when racing media seems to shower the plaudits on every woman who’s just ridden a winner. Sometimes seems women riders can not be criticised and/or get away with stuff a male jockey doesn’t. However, there’s no reason a woman can not be Champion jockey and both Rachel Blackmore at Cheltenham and Irish Jockeys Championship and Bryony Frost in her quality performances over the last 18 months have proven it. Personally don’t think Lizzie Kelly is in the same class, but that’s just my opinion; she’s still pretty good and wouldn’t put me off backing her mounts. I don’t think David should be criticised either for believing Rachel better than Bryony; just his opinion.
Vive la Difference is what I say. Great listening to jockeys thoroughly enjoying victory and don’t want them to change or tone it down. But if every jockey reacts in that same euphoric manner I’d be turning the sound off, let alone down! Nothing wrong with a calmer response. People should be careful if thinking the Euphorics are somehow more honest and/or more caring than the Calmers; not necessarily true. Being able to talk does not make a better jockey.
Worries me a little these three women are all excellent talkers. Nothing wrong with good talkers but are women of a Moore, McCoy or indeed a Piggott character going to get a fair crack at the whip? Hopefully the Racing media’s love affair is not more to do with personality than racing ability.
Bryony’s Frodon victory was exceptional, not because it was a woman but for any jockey. Look forward to the day we can talk about how good or bad a jockey is without mentioning their sex. To me Bryony and Rachel are not the top 2 women jockeys, they are top jockeys full stop.
Value Is EverythingI don’t think David should be criticised either for believing Rachel better than Bryony; just his opinion.
I also think that Rachael is the better jockey. They both boast a 15% strike rate this season with Bryony riding 305 horses vs. Rachael’s 561. Considering that there isn’t NH racing on a daily basis in Ireland and that Bryony can choose from more tracks, especially on a Saturday, you have to admit that Rachael is dealing with far more competition.
It doesn’t matter who gets the job done for an owner, trainer or punter. I think all jockeys deserve a lot of credit for their work and achievements. No wayI’d like to take anything away from Bryony, but let’s also talk a bit more about Frodon.
If I could bet on a female jockey becoming champion one day, Rachael Blackmore would be my odds-on shot.
For me Rachael is getting more opportunities per race day even though there are less meetings in Ireland, whereas Nicholls had previously stated that they are currently minding Bryony with the amount/type of rides she takes.
Rachael has the backing of De Bromhead & Gigginstown and because (Gigginstown in particular) are mob handed in pretty much every Irish race she is getting that many more rides especially this year where to date she has had 186 & 199 more rides than she did in 2017/18 & 2016/17 seasons and 50 & 52 more winners respectively.
I think Rachael just slightly edges it at the moment but that to me is only because she has ridden in more races and gained more experience – over the last 4 seasons she has had 1,468 rides compared to Bryony’s 648.
Agree that Lizzie Kelly is not quite at the same level as those two but I would have no issues using any of them or Bridget Andrews either if they were available and the continuation of these high profile wins will only ensure that attitudes will continue to change hopefully to a point in the future where gender will have no bearing on whom is being booked for a ride.
Shame Bryony will miss Aintree but hopefully it will not keep her out of action for too long.
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