Decision pending on whether Il Est Francais will remain with trainer Tom George or rejoin son Noel in France, with the horse trainer expressing unity across the teams.
Il Est Francais: The French-British Chase Horse in Question
Il Est Francais, the co-owned racehorse by Nicolas de Lageneste (French breeder) and Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes (British-based), has been making waves in the racing world. The horse, trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, has had a successful career so far, with notable wins such as the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton in 2023 and a runner-up finish in the King George VI Chase in 2022.
However, the future of Il Est Francais remains uncertain. The horse has spent his summer break at Trull House Stud, owned by Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, but the decision about where he will be trained and the exact path he will take has not been made yet. Noel George stated that there has been no discussion with the owners about the plan for Il Est Francais, but he is unlikely to run in France before the King George.
Il Est Francais bounced back at Kempton just five weeks after experiencing issues at Auteuil. The horse faced issues with broken blood vessels on a couple of occasions at Auteuil, including being pulled up in the Grade 1 Prix La Haye Jousselin last November. Despite these setbacks, Il Est Francais is reported to be in good form at the moment.
The owners of Il Est Francais have yet to decide whether the horse continues its career in Great Britain or is trained in France. If Il Est Francais returns to Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm's yard, they will be part of the same team as Tom George, who trained the horse earlier in his career.
George and Zetterholm have made a successful start to the autumn season in Paris, saddling eight winners from their first 20 runners at Auteuil and Compiegne this month. However, no new information about Il Est Francais' co-ownership, training status, or participation in the King George VI Chase was provided in the latest updates.
One thing is for sure, Il Est Francais has been a flagship horse for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, whose meteoric rise is demonstrated by the fact that when the horse won the Prix Renaud du Vivier, Noel had yet to be granted a licence by France Galop, and he ran in Tom's name. The racing world eagerly awaits the decision about Il Est Francais' future and his potential return to the track.
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