'I had some brilliant people I rode for - but I felt the challenge was needed' - Bryony Frost opens up on French move

On a fleeting but successful visit back home Bryony Frost spoke about her new life in France for the first time, but she has not been completely closed the door to riding in Britain on a regular basis again.

The Grade 1-winning jockey made the switch across to France in May, seeking fresh challenges in her highly successful career, but returned to Exeter on Friday for just her fourth and fifth rides of the season in Britain, one of which resulted in a winner on the track's flagship Haldon Gold Cup day.

Frost was reunited with the Paul Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit for owner Andy Peake in the feature race, with a selection of photographers and well-wishers among racegoers crowding outside the weighing room as the jockeys made their way to the paddock.

Sans Bruit made the running but weakened out of contention late on to finish third, but Asian Spice, her other mount for her father Jimmy, was a popular winner with the crowd in the 2m2½f mares’ handicap hurdle. It was the rider's first success of the domestic campaign.

Frost, 29, has embraced her time in France with ten winners, and her new role as retained rider there for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede has helped her settle into new surroundings.

Frost, who was flying back to France from Bristol airport on Friday evening, said: "It came to the point where I wanted to challenge myself, and I felt that the move was now. Simon and Isaac saw this and wanted to take me on. That made it more of a permanent thought.

"I knew I was leaving good teams behind – I had some brilliant people I rode for and I rode beautiful horses – but I felt the challenge was needed. You have to throw a bit of caution; if it doesn’t work then it doesn’t but if it does then it does. You’ve just got to run with it. You can’t tell your story unless you write your chapters, and France is now a new chapter for me.

Bryony Frost and Asian Spice win the 2m2f mares handicap hurdle at Exeter on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"Joining the double green team was an amazing opportunity, and one I’ve grabbed with both hands. To work with such talented people is brilliant because they’re all backing you. They all have confidence in what you do, so with that as a jockey you’re going out working with horses you know you’re going to be riding on the track. It’s an amazing feeling."

When asked if returning to Britain is under consideration, she added: "Andy Peake kept me with the partnership today and I’ll come back for him. If double green doesn't need me then I’ll ride horses wherever in the world. I'm based in France, I work everyday there, but I came back earlier in the week to school Sans Bruit. I like to work and keep my head down, but if I’m needed over here then you’ll see me in and out.

"It’s been brilliant in France, but it’s a big challenge. You have to find your rhythm, find your feet and adapt to the language, which is obviously a barrier, but you try to learn as quickly as possible. It’s not easy, but I'm getting there and taking lessons. It’ll take time, but the horses and training regime is fantastic."

On the winner for her father, she said: "I don't normally celebrate, but wow the buzz that came with it. I was winning for dad and the team, and I can't tell you how much that has buzzed me up. 

"The pressure was on, but I'll be flying back out to France with a smile on my face. We work really hard and the horses try hard for us, but it's really difficult to win races. I'm trying to convince dad to bring a few over so I can ride for him."

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