Irish Horse: Frost lights up Sandown after difficult week

After giving evidence in her case against Robbie Dunne, Bryony Frost got back to doing what she does best at Sandown last Saturday.

Ronan Groome

8 December 2021

Irish Horse: Frost lights up Sandown after difficult week

Bryony Frost is welcomed back into the winners' enclosure following her win on Greaneteen in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase. \ Healy Racing

Bryony Frost ended what was an emotionally strenuous week in the best possible way when she delivered Greaneteen to an impressive win in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.Earlier last week, Frost had spent three days in front of a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) panel which heard charges of threatening and abusive behaviour towards her by fellow jockey Robbie Dunne, all but one of which he denies.

Bryony Frost ended what was an emotionally strenuous week in the best possible way when she delivered Greaneteen to an impressive win in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Earlier last week, Frost had spent three days in front of a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) panel which heard charges of threatening and abusive behaviour towards her by fellow jockey Robbie Dunne, all but one of which he denies.

The Dublin native jockey is alleged to have behaved inappropriately towards Frost who told the BHA panel that at one time, he exposed himself in front of her and other female jockeys, amid other allegations of bullying and threatening behaviour.

At Sandown on Saturday, Frost was back to a safe haven of horseback, and she once again showed her prowess in the saddle with an excellent ride on Greaneteen who powered up the Sandown hill to give his trainer Paul Nicholls a remarkable 12th win in the race.

I felt the support and that the crowd were right behind me, pushing me forward

The trio were given a hearty welcome back to the winners’ enclosure and Frost told journalists afterwards: “We crossed the line and it was a moment of relief and then it starts flooding in that, ‘My God, you’ve just won the Tingle Creek!’ I’m feeling like I’m on cloud nine, which consistently happens when you ride for Paul. It is absolutely phenomenal for everyone involved. This horse has taken me to the heights.

“I felt the support and that the crowd were right behind me, pushing me forward. I am very privileged that people are behind me and enjoy watching me ride and enjoy the person who I am.”

Mullins

The Willie Mullins-trained Chacun Pour Soi was sent off a heavily backed odds-on favourite but failed to fire under the trainers’ son Patrick, who eased the horse once his chance had gone. However, there was better luck for Willie and Patrick on Sunday when they combined to win the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase with Allaho at Punchestown.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned chaser overcame a poor round of jumping to see off stablemates Janidil and Melon, after another stablemate Asterion Forlonge fell just as he was about to make his challenge before the straight. Race favourite Envoi Allen could only manage sixth and now has plenty of questions to answer.

It was also a marvellous weekend for Gordon Elliott

Mullins teamed up with Sean O’Keeffe for a treble at Cork also, headlined by the imperious Energumene, who took the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase and now looks to be the stable’s big challenger for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.

It was also a marvellous weekend for Gordon Elliott who sent out seven of the eight winners at his home track of Navan on Saturday. Elliot also trained the first winners on the Cork and Punchestown cards on Sunday meaning that he had trained the winner of nine races in a row.