Noel George believes a long, hard season finally caught up with Il Est Francais at Compiegne on Wednesday, with the talented seven-year-old to be given a summer break before having another crack at the King George VI Chase.
The 2023 Grade 1 Kauto Star winner made a bold bid from the front in last year’s running of the Ladbrokes-backed King George, just getting run down by Banbridge in the final strides, and George hopes with a cleaner preparation – which could take in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon – his stable star could go one better.
Since his bold show in the King George he has finished sixth in the Ryanair Chase, won a conditions hurdle at Lyon and then placed an 11-and-a-half-length third behind the Nicky Henderson-trained Aston Martini in a Listed hurdle at Compiegne.
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Published on 15 May 2025inFrance
Last updated 17:00, 15 May 2025