Champions: Full Gallop,  a new six-part documentary series showing jockeys “as you have never seen them before”, comes to TV screens tomorrow (19 July) at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Going behind the scenes with jockeys, trainers, owners and horses as they compete in the 2023-24 jumps season, the series features contributions from key players including trainers Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton and jockeys such as Harry Cobden, Sean Bowen, Harry Skelton and Bryony Frost at key meetings including the Cheltenham and Grand National festivals.

The series takes in all the elements that make racing such a compelling sport, from charismatic owners to the trainers and stable staff who invest so much in the welfare of their horses.

Produced by South Shore, supported by Flutter and Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the series has been given access to all areas from weighing rooms to stable yards as viewers are invited to follow the thrills, emotion and drama both on and off the racetrack.

The first episode will chart the build-up to and outcome of the King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day as the programme attempts to follow the success of other sports documentaries, such as F1’s Drive To Survive and tennis’ Break Point.

RMG chief executive Martin Stevenson this week described the launch of the docuseries as a “huge opportunity” for racing.

He said: “The question is how can we build on this. I hope everybody will love it and we can talk about the next series. The way these things work best is to build them over a number of series and to really draw people into the stories so it becomes one of the ways they enjoy the sport.

“We want people at home to be able to engage with racing and to see it in a different way, to get a glimpse behind the scenes and experience the grit and the glory.

“We hope to ultimately widen the sport’s fanbase. Racing is clearly facing some challenges, but it still has a huge audience and if we can get a decent fraction of the people who enjoy jump racing engaged then we’ve succeeded.”

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National Hunt legend and fan favourite Frodon has been retired after a glittering career in racing.

The 12-year-old bowed out after the 2023 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, in a fashion that “ends his racing story the perfect way”.

Frodon won 19 of his 52 career starts, including the 2020 King George and the 2019 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, clocking nearly £1.2m in prize money for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Paul Vogt.

He won 11 races under Bryony Frost, who will take care of Frodon in his retirement.

Paul Nicholls said: “Frodon has been a legend for Team Ditcheat since he joined us from France as a three-year-old in late 2015.

“It was the right thing to do after his final run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He led for a while and ran his usual solid race, but doesn’t quite have the legs these days and was last of the five to finish.”

Bryony paid tribute to her time on the racecourse with Frodon.

“I’ve a whole tonne of emotions that have flooded in with Frodon’s retirement,” she said. “A formidable partner to be beside. He wore his heart on his sleeve, with no doubt ever we couldn’t do it. A true professional at his game.

“He became everyone’s horse because of the way he is and given so many memories that stand at the forefront of our fondest ones.

“He left the track on his terms and that ends his racing story the perfect way.

Bryony added that Frodon will join former National Hunt hero Black Corton at her Dartmoor base.

“His days now will be filled with joining Black Corton, carefree, galloping across the moor, beach rides, all you can eat haynet and whatever he finds fun!”

Paul Nicholls added: “He forged a brilliant partnership with Bryony, who likes to call him ‘Pegasus’.

“He will be missed by everyone involved with Team Ditcheat, in particular Michelle Kramer, who has looked after him for many years. The great thing is that he is finishing in one piece and will have a lovely time in retirement.”

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Star chaser Frodon is to bow out at the end of this jumps season, to spend his retirement with the jockey who rode him to his most famous successes.

Bryony Frost and the 11-year-old, who have clocked up 11 wins together for Paul Nicholls, made a visit to Wincanton Primary School last week, as part of the RacingToSchool initiative, when Bryony confirmed the news.

“When he is ready to retire, he will be coming home with me which is great and we’ll be gallivanting around the moors somewhere!” she said. “We’ve had some amazing days together.”

Paul Vogt’s Frodon and Bryony made history at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 when they won the Ryanair Chase – the first time a female jockey had won a Grade One race over fences at the event.

They also won the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in 2020 and their most recent success together came in the 2022 Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton, which they will attempt to win for a second time on 11 November.

After winning the King George VI Chase, Bryony said: “We’ve just won the King George! I’ve had the absolute best time going round on Frodon — he’s just smashed everyone’s expectations. What a Christmas present he has given his owners, Mr and Mrs Vogt.

“He’s what you dream of as a little girl — he was absolutely epic and I’m so grateful to Paul for letting me ride Frodon.”

The gelding, who is by Nickname and out of a mare by Country Reel, has won £1,162,151 to date in the 50 races he has run under Rules – 28 with Bryony.

Frodon’s visit to Wincanton Primary School was organised by The Jockey Club, alongside RacingToSchool, an educational charity that aims to inspire young minds through the provision of free, interactive and healthy outdoor educational events for schools, staged at a variety of racing venues. The children watched video of Bryony and Frodon in action, learned about racing with former jockey Rob Bellamy, then met Frodon in the playground.

“It’s been absolutely awesome and the kids and Frodon loved it,” Bryony said after the visit. “They were chanting his name and saying ‘You’re going to win’!

“Frodon is phenomenal. He loves all the attention and just takes it in his stride. He’s brilliant.”

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Jockey Robbie Dunne has been given an 18-month ban, with three months suspended, after he was found in breach on all four counts of conduct prejudicial to horseracing as the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority ruled he had bullied and harassed fellow rider Bryony Frost.

Dunne was charged with seven breaches in total, four of conduct prejudicial to horseracing and three of violent and threatening behaviour, with all but one of those charges denied. The 36-year-old, who was not given a financial penalty, was told there was “a combination of factors” that meant his punishment was above the entry point.

An independent three-person panel, chaired by Brian Barker QC, found the four prejudicial conduct breaches to have been proven, while the latter three are yet to be considered.

The majority of the incidents in question took place in 2020, when Robbie Dunne was found by the panel to have threatened Frost by promising to “put her through a wing [of a fence]” and he was also accused of using misogynistic language such as “f****** w***e”, “f****** s**t” and “dangerous ****” towards her.

Barker said: “Our conclusion on the whole of the evidence is that a course of deliberate conduct over a significant period of time has been revealed.

“This has progressed from distasteful targeting to deliberate harassment on and off the course and onwards to occasional cases of dangerous bullying.

“We find that the words used on September 3 were, as a promise, to cause real harm – over and above the usual jockey mantra of ‘murdering’.

“On the examination of Ms Frost’s evidence and demeanour we find her to be truthful, thoughtful and compelling.

“By taking her complaint to the authority she has broken the code [of the weighing room], knowing that her isolation – and rejection by some – was inevitable.”

He added: “In acknowledging after the Southwell race Mr Dunne believed that Ms Frost was the cause of his mount’s death and that he had suffered a fall, we are unable to accept Mr Dunne’s sweep of denials, criticisms and his reasons.

“A man who in the view of one of his own witnesses was “a p*** taker” and who regarded himself as one of the elders of the weighing room and someone who expected his view to be heeded.

“Behind the four elements set out in rule (J) 19 we find those proved.

“I’d like to make two further observations. The type of excessive language used towards Ms Frost was totally unacceptable, whatever the frustrations about her style and whatever the habits of the weighing room.

“Secondly, in reviewing the evidence given and their approach, by jockeys of repute, as well as by the valets – who probably find themselves in a difficult position – we have a real concern that what was referred to by Mr Weston as ‘the weighing-room culture’ is deep-rooted and coercive and that in itself is not conducive to the development of modern-day race-riding.”

Barker added: “In our view [Frost] has supported [her case] in a number of areas. The first is the published comments on the virtual Grand National, the second is the apology at Bangor, the third is the video of the encounter in the pull-up area at Stratford combined with the independent evidence of the fence attendant.

“Also the acceptance of at least some offensive behaviour at Southwell which was followed by Ms Frost’s report to the BHA, and the evidence of Ms [Hannah] Welch [former amateur jockey], which we also found persuasive in admissible support.”

Addressing the leaked BHA report into the allegations, and the suggestion that this may have prejudiced the hearing, Barker said: “It is an unfortunate fact that the preliminary process has been overshadowed by extraordinary and unprecedented leaks, either one leak or two leaks, of confidential information.

“In relation to that, the independent enquiry continues. The fact of that leak has led to both distress and unhelpful speculation.

“Fortunately in recent days most of those subsidiary matters have fallen away and as a result we now view that there has been a thorough public investigation and dissection of the core areas, which, looked at in totality, will be of great concern to many who love, support and enjoy the sport.”

In regards to the penalty imposed, which is effective immediately, with Dunne having seven days in which to lodge an appeal, Barker said: “We have taken our time to consider submissions that have been made, both from the BHA and from Mr Dunne. We will say this – professional athletes should behave in a professional way and I am afraid you haven’t.

“This was a deliberate targeting of a colleague whose vulnerabilities you exploited. Whatever your view of her style this was not the way to deal with it. Your behaviour was not appropriate in any sport.

“We have to consider both aggravating features and mitigating features. I view the aggravating features are that this was a deliberate course of conduct, in public, over a fairly long period, which had its desired effect.

“Your behaviour and language would not be tolerated in any other walk of life or workplace. Additionally, in the course of this hearing you have adopted an aggressive attack on [Frost’s] personality in order to justify your actions. There has been little sign of understanding.

“Mitigation we have considered carefully, but we can’t, I’m afraid, give any credit to the limited plea that was made. We considered the leak, the leak would have had a negative impact on you and it was most unfortunate from every point of view. But nevertheless, the negative impact applied to everybody involved.

“We note that you were following a culture that seems to be approved of by your peers and we are particularly conscious that your livelihood will be significantly affected. We have taken particular notice to the medical report, we do understand your suffering at the loss of your best friend [Liam Treadwell].

“You meant to instil fear and humiliation and you succeeded. Your actions were not appropriate in an equal-terms sport, nor did they meet the expectations of acceptable behaviour.”

He added: “There are a combination of factors, in our view, that take this substantially above the entry point. We agree the appropriate approach is to give concurrent sentences, our view is overall that the appropriate sentence is one of 18 months suspension of licence. We did not consider a financial penalty to be appropriate.

“Taking into account a number of matters urged upon us, we do consider it is just to suspend three months of that term. You will understand the effect of this and the suspension will take place in the usual way.”

Giving her reaction to Robbie Dunne’s ban, Frost – who rode a winner at Warwick at almost the same time the verdict was announced – said in a statement she would “take a few days” for reflection before commenting further.

“I would like to thank every individual including the racing public that has supported me not only during the last couple of weeks but throughout,” she said.

“I wish now to take a few days to reflect on the outcome before I make any further comment. I ask the media to please give me and the people closest to me a few days of privacy. I need to focus on my upcoming rides over the weekend. Thank you.”

Copy supplied by PA Media

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After a trying week for Bryony Frost  – which included a day being cross-examined in the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) hearing against Robbie Dunne, who she has accused of bullying and harassing her – she won the Grade One Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday (4 December), returning home to a hero’s welcome.

Bryony was riding the seven-year-old Greaneteen, one of the rising stars of the two-mile division, and the pair gave trainer Paul Nicholls a remarkable 12th winner of the race, beating stable companion Hitman by 5½ lengths.

Not surprisingly, the post-race media focus was all about the jockey rather than her mount and, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing hearing, she got a huge reception and three cheers from the Sandown crowd.

“I can’t tell you what it means,” she said. “I was nearly in tears coming in. To feel the support of everyone here is huge and I could hardly talk to Alice [Plunkett, ITV Racing] coming in because I wanted to appreciate everybody! They appreciate me and I ride horses and it’s the best life. I can say I do that as a job and it’s a special place to be.”

About the race, she added: “The ground out there is very testing, which was a concern of mine obviously from coming here at the end of April and winning [beating Altior in the Celebration Chase] on good ground. You had to think that that was our major factor and the biggest hindrance to us, but he settled very quickly.

“There were a few moments down the back there on the fence along the side and he was right down on his nose. But he was a good boy and came back up. We were like a submarine emerging at that point and then turning in we had our stablemate [Hitman] right beside us.

“We soared out over two out, we’ve come down to the last and found it and then from the back of the last I thought, ‘Oh God. This seems like it’s a mile long!’ But we found the line. In these big races sometimes you say it’s a relief and then it floods in like a waterfall; we won the Tingle Creek.”

Paul Nicholls, who had been climbing the walls at home for 10 days after testing positive for Covid, said: “It has been a difficult week for Bryony, but she has handled it well and I don’t think any of us would like to be in that position. But when you come back in and ride a Grade One winner today, that says everything about her how professional she is.”

He added: “We had no belief in Greaneteen last year, that’s probably half the problem. He was only beaten two lengths in this last year. I think he’s a better horse, but we’ve got belief in him now.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

He’s Pegasus over the fences and a “full-on joker”. Jennifer Donald meets the Gold Cup contender bidding to help his devoted jockey make history

Frodon’s trainer Paul Nicholls

“Frodon’s first race for us was as a four-year-old and he won a good juvenile hurdle at Haydock second time out. But he wasn’t anything to look at. He’s not big, so when he first arrived he looked like a rabbit. But obviously he matured, strengthened up and filled out. He has a lot of class and, as he’s got older, he’s got more stamina. He jumps great and has the will to win. He’s an amazing horse, absolutely astonishing in fact.

“He’s mad-fresh and comes out of his box with his tail in the air, so he needs plenty of work – he literally cannot do enough. And he’s a real character. He squeals the whole time he’s out, setting the entire string off most of the time. Even after he won the Ryanair, he was still squealing in the veterinary box afterwards. He loves everything he does. He’s just one of those happy, enthusiastic horses.

“He’s ridden out every day by Holley Evans, who adores him. They’re a match made in heaven. He’s always taking the mickey out of her and she’s part of him.

“Winning the King George was my proudest moment because it was a bit of a surprise. It was magical for him and his owner, Paul [Vogt], for whom Frodon is really special. It’ll be his lifetime’s ambition to have a runner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.”

Stable lass Michelle Kramer

“He’s like a toddler; he’s into everything and is always looking for treats, he’s so cute. If anyone is giving another horse on the yard attention, he starts banging the door. He’s happy-go-lucky and when you put him on the walker, everyone knows ‘Here comes Frodon’ because he squeals like a pig and enjoys a buck, too. You know he’s feeling well by the amount of squealing. But he’s straightforward and loves nothing better than to roll when you’ve laid out his stable.

“As soon as you put his travelling boots on, he knows where he’s going and he can’t stand still. Watching him at the races, I’ve been getting more and more nervous recently. I’ve never felt like that before.

“When he came round the back straight in front during the King George, everyone was hitting me saying, ‘He’s got this!’ but I couldn’t believe it. I had tears of joy running down my face when he won, so I was quite glad for having to wear a face mask that day. He’s fit and well but I expect I’ll feel all the nerves in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival.”

Jockey Bryony Frost

“To describe him as a person, Frodon would be the one in the room with the contagious laugh. He inspires through how courageous, determined and self-assured he is. He’s so nimble and accurate, he’s brilliant to sit on, but I’m definitely the apprentice, he’s the boss.

“In the early days, the most worrying thing was getting down to the start because he’s quite gung-ho. In parades, Harry Derham, Paul’s assistant trainer, would sometimes have to help Michelle lead him and I was giggling away on top as Harry skied underneath me with his heels planted in the turf. Frodon just took him for a walk. He’s a full-on joker.

“As a girl, you watch horses like him on telly and dream of what they may be like, so to have him in my career is beyond a fairytale. We’ve achieved not just wins, but we’ve broken records and smashed a lot of expectations. The whole grandstand erupted for him when he won the Ryanair. Coming down the chute was such a proud moment because I could feel how much he’d touched people. He thrives off all that.

“If I don’t have fun with him in the Gold Cup, there’s something wrong with me. It’s the biggest test of our career and one of the toughest races, but ask me what horse I’d like to ride in the race and it would always be Frodon.”

Also published in H&H 11 March 2021

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After what has been a very unusual festive period for most due to coronavirus restrictions, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase today (26 December) delivered something of a Christmas fairytale result, with Frodon providing a somewhat surprising win under Bryony Frost (pictured).

Jumping off handily and dominating from start to finish, the pair defied their 20/1 starting price to land the Grade One at Kempton Park racecourse by 2¼ lengths.

“We’ve just won the King George!” Bryony exclaimed afterwards. “I’ve had the absolute best time going round on Frodon — he’s just smashed everyone’s expectations. What a Christmas present he has given his owners, Mr and Mrs Vogt.

“He’s what you dream of as a little girl — he was absolutely epic and I’m so grateful to Paul [Nicholls] for letting me ride Frodon.

“Paul’s travelling head girl said to me that he was in great form and I could not believe it coming to the line — I had to double check we weren’t meant to be going round again.”

This win meant that Bryony also surpassed the current record of the number of National Hunt winners ridden by a female jockey, and becomes the all-time leading female jump jockey.

“I talked to my brother, who is currently in the US last night and he said ‘how cool would it be if you broke the record on Frodon in the King George’,” Bryony explained.

This win also marked a 12th for trainer Paul Nicholls in this race, and he continues to be the winning-most trainer of the race.

“That was amazing and I wasn’t expecting it,” Paul admitted, with his more favoured runners, Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname finishing sixth and pulled up respectively.

“Frodon loves it around here and my instructions to Bryony were to just go as quickly as she could and to keep jumping. I’ve done serious work with him over the past three weeks after he didn’t run particularly well in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree [5 December] and he’s thrived off it. What a remarkable horse he is.”

Owners Mr and Mrs Vogt were understandably delighted with the result.

“It’s amazing and we can’t believe it. He was up for it and he was never headed. What a surprise it was,” Mr Vogt explained.

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Waiting Patiently ran gallantly finishing second under champion jockey Brian Hughes for trainer Ruth Jefferson and owner Richard Collins. The result was a great training performance given that the nine-year-old was last seen on the track on 7 December 2019.

“Waiting Patiently’s owner has been amazing as he has had time off, but he’s just run his heart out. He ran absolute blinder of a race and has done nothing wrong,” said Ruth.

The 2018 and 2019 winner of this race, Clan Des Obeaux, who went off 85/40 favourite, finished third after he made a few mistakes. The disappointments of the race were Cyrname and Lostintranslation, who were both pulled up, while Santini finished a below-par fifth.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

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With us getting well and truly into the nitty-gritty of the National Hunt season, we take a look back on what was a great weekend of racing from Sandown Park and Exeter. What’s more, it was the first weekend of racing since March when crowds have been welcomed back through the doors of racecourses, owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Here are some great shots, taken by Bill Selwyn, which capture some up-and-coming superstars and well-established favourites battling it out over the past few days…

Politolgue and Harry Skelton are springheeled on their way to winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown Park. The nine-year-old Champion Chase winner is owned by John Hales and trained by Paul Nicholls.

Allmankind and Harry Skelton fly two out to win well in the Henry VIII Novice Chase. This Grade One win came in the same hour Harry won the Tingle Creek, marking a very successful afternoon for him. Allmankind is owned by former showjumping family Bill and Tim Gredley, and is a very exciting prospect for Dan Skelton’s stable.

Doing Fine (far side) and a cool Millie Wonnacott join Crosspark and Harry Skelton at the second last as the sun sets over Sandown in the London National Handicap Chase. Millie, who recently returned to the saddle after breaking vertebrae, got up to win this race on the 12-year-old, trained by Neil Mulholland and owned by the Neil Mulholland Racing Club.

The field pass small crowds at Exeter on Friday (4 December) for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic set in.

Findusatgorcombe and Bryony Frost en-route to winning the Devon Marathon at Exeter. This eight-year-old is owned by Phill Meaden and trained by Bryony’s father, Jimmy Frost.

Bold Plan and Sean Bowen (blue colours) at the open ditch on their way to winning the novices’ chase at Exeter, a shock result considering he beat the odds on favourite and much talked about The Big Breakaway. Bold Plan is owned by Mr and Mrs. William Rucker and trained by Evan Williams.

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Fifty Ball and Neil Houlihan are clear at the last to win easily in the novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown. This five-year-old is owned by Steven Packham and is trained by Gary Moore.

Just one more of Politologue in full flight in the Tingle Creek…

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Two equestrians are among the eight sports women to make the shortlist for the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year award 2019.

The prize, which is in its seventh year, celebrates stand-out performances from Britain’s female athletes and is decided by public vote.

This year, eventer Pippa Funnell MBE and jockey Bryony Frost have been nominated alongside competitors from the worlds of football, athletics, taekwondo, para-cycling and motorsport.

Fifty-year-old Pippa was put forward for the prize after her “return to winning ways” at this year’s Burghley, 14 years after her last four-star (now five-star) victory; while Bryony was nominated after becoming the first female jockey to win a Grade One race over fences at Cheltenham.

Other nominees include last year’s recipient sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who broke British records this year while claiming a gold and two silvers in the world championships at 100m and 200m.

Voting is now open at btsport.com/actionwoman2019 and closes at 11.59pm on 1 December.

The shortlist was selected by a panel of judges including Clare Balding OBE, Rachel Brown-Finnis, Caroline Barker, Tammy Parlour MBE (co-founder of the Women’s Sport Trust), Jude Kelly CBE (director of the WOW Foundation), and Adam Sills (head of sport at The Telegraph).

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Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “It has been an incredible, record-breaking year for women’s sport, both for individuals and teams. From football and horse racing, to motorsport and martial arts, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our nominees and hope that their performances will inspire the next generation of athletes.

“We would encourage everyone to continue to show their appreciation and admiration by voting for their favourite sportswoman of 2019.”

The awards, hosted by Clare Balding, will be shown across multiple platforms, including BT Sport 1, on the BT Sport app, BTsport.com and on Twitter on Monday, 9 December from 7.30pm.

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