Robbie Dunne quizzed by BHA counsel over Virtual Grand National tweet

On Tuesday the BHA case against Robbie Dunne resumed and after defence counsel Roderick Moore had laid out his argument why his client should be acquitted, Louis Weston, for the BHA, attempted to show there had been a long-standing pattern of intimidation towards Bryony Frost.

Louis Weston You say, 'I had words with Bryony Frost about her style of riding on July 8 at Stratford racecourse'. Three lines down you say, 'This was the first time she'd done this to me and I wanted to speak to her about it'. This you are describing as your first incident of dispute with Bryony Frost. Until this time you describe your relationship with her as ‘good or perfect'.

Robbie Dunne Yes.

LW That's just not true, is it? You have for many years bullied her.

RD No.

LW You've had an issue with her for some time, haven't you?

RD No, Mr Weston.

LW Stratford was on July 8, wasn't it?

RD Yes.

LW By that time you had a Twitter account, didn't you? On that account you had many followers, didn't you?

RD 1,500 or so.

LW 1,500 or so, that's many followers. Have a look at page 37 of the main bundle. This details a tweet you sent on April 4 2020. And that was the date of the Virtual Grand National.

RD Correct.

LW And the Virtual Grand National went off at 19 minutes past five, didn't it? You posted this 17.13. So you're posting it before the off, aren't you?

RD Yes.

LW You say, 'If YalaEnki wins this cartoon race, wonder will the interview be as far fetched as they do be in the real race?' Who was riding Yala Enki?

RD Miss Frost.

LW How many riders were there in the Virtual National?

RD 40.

LW Why did you pick on her?

RD I said in my statement it was unprofessional.

LW I'm not interested in your statement. Why did you pick on her? Out of the 40 riders?

RD It was unprofessional.

LW Out of the 40 riders in the Grand National, why did you pick on her?

RD I didn't pick on her.

LW You didn't mention any other horse in that race in that tweet. Why did you pick on her?

RD I made a mistake and I hold my hands up absolutely.

LW Why of all the riders in that race did you pick out her to mock?

RD I didn't.

LW You didn't? This is your Twitter, your tweet.

RD I fully accept it's unprofessional.

LW And I'm asking you why. Can you answer me?

RD No.

LW Why not?

RD Well I have answered in my statement, I have accepted that it was unprofessional.

LW Saying it was unprofessional does not explain why you did it. Why did you do it?

RD As I explained.

LW One last time. Try harder. May I suggest you're lying about it? Why did you do it?

RD As I have said it was unprofessional and I've said it was inappropriate.

LW It's not unprofessional. You were bullying her.

Read these next:

'Not a threat, a figure of speech' – Robbie Dunne denies Bryony Frost claims

Current and former riders expected to give evidence as Robbie Dunne case resumes

'Whoa moment' – Stratford attendant says Dunne verbals were out of the ordinary

Bryony Frost: Robbie Dunne 'promised to hurt me and put me through a wing'

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