Amy Murphy: there are definitely more chances for female riders over jumps

While opportunities at big meetings continue to evade female jockeys on the Flat, the celebrations of Bryony Frost, Rachael Blackmore and Lizzie Kelly after their Cheltenham Festival successes provided three of the defining images of the 2018-019 jumps season.

Speaking on Monday, dual-purpose trainer Amy Murphy, who saddled Thegreatestshowman – her first Royal Ascot runner – in the Windsor Castle Stakes last season, admitted that more top-level rides are available for female jockeys over jumps.

"I think there are definitely more chances over jumps," Murphy said. "You see the likes of Bryony Frost and Lizzie Kelly riding in Pattern races every Saturday – you don't necessarily see that on the Flat.

"When it comes to the jumps I think the point-to-point scene helps. A lot of girls ride a number of winners in that sphere to build up connections that way before they go professional."

Lizzie Kelly: great success over jumpsCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Murphy, a Grade 1-winning trainer following Kalashnikov's victory in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April, added: "There are the likes of Hollie Doyle and Nicola Currie who are outstanding and there's no reason why they shouldn't get top opportunities.

"There are a lot of promising girls coming through who are apprentices and when you look at the top tier, there's only a very small pool of girls actually operating at that level.

"We don't want to be negative about these things and we're moving in the right direction but female riders should be able to compete on a level playing field with the guys."

Frodon and Minella Indo gave Frost and Blackmore Grade 1 victories over the four-day jumps showpiece, with the latter also triumphant aboard A Plus Tard in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.

Lizzie Kelly celebrated festival glory in the Brown Advisory Plate with Siruh Du Lac, and has enjoyed great success over jumps in partnership with trainer Nick Williams.

When asked about the differing success on female riders in both codes, Kelly said: "It's the million dollar question because I don't think anyone has come up with an ideal way to promote female riders, but it's up to each rider to promote themselves with their results.

"However, if you don't have the opportunity to do that how can you show what you've got? Unfortunately I don't think anyone has the answer right now and I don't think there's really a formula to follow to get girls more rides."

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