One of the iconic horses in the racing world has changed stables and is preparing for the esteemed King George Chase on Boxing Day.
Il Est Francais showed great potential by securing victory in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in 2023.
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Regrettably, his following performances did not go as anticipated for the talented seven-year-old.
Previously trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in France, Il Est Francais raced three more times, resulting in positions of 5-1-PU, before making a return to Kempton last Christmas.
During that race, he looked primed for a win in the King George until he was overtaken in the final stages by Banbridge.
In the Ryanair, he faced a significant defeat, finishing 26 lengths behind Fact To File, and he concluded his season in third place at a Listed hurdle race in Compiegne, where he was the 3-5 favorite.
Earlier this year, Sun Racing columnist Matt Chapman hinted that a change of scenery might reinvigorate the horse’s career.
According to the Nick Luck podcast, this transition has taken place—although it may not be a permanent situation.
Il Est Francais is now under the care of Noel’s father, Tom, at his Down Farm facility in Slad Valley, Gloucestershire—just a 30-minute drive from Cheltenham.
The trio—Tom, Noel, and Amanda—are collaborating closely and frequently discussing strategies for this exceptional chaser’s upcoming season.
While long-term plans remain undecided, the King George is back on his radar.
Il Est Francais is being primed to return to racing in November.
This will allow him one race before the significant Grade 1 event on Boxing Day.
He is currently enjoying full training and reportedly thriving in his new surroundings—though discussions about his permanent home are still ongoing.
Tom mentioned on the podcast: “He is in full training here, but we have no concrete plans for what lies ahead.
“Many of Noel and Amanda’s horses come here for breaks and vacations.
“We focus on what is best for each individual horse.
“Options are likely narrowing for him in France; he’s starting to run out of choices.
“I’m not sure he should race at Auteuil on very heavy ground, and there are few events at Compiegne.
“He tends to perform better on right-handed tracks—those French venues are left-handed—and while not critical, he does have a preference.
“I believe the change in training and a bit of a break have been beneficial.
“We understand how much he enjoys Kempton, and that’s likely his target, but there’s still much work to do before we reach that point.
“We are quite satisfied with his condition.
“Whether he races in France or England remains to be seen, but he’s in excellent form.”
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