The winner of the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton last Boxing Day was the 3-1 market leader for the Christmas feature prior to his latest start
Il Est Francais is back on course for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day – despite his no-show at Auteuil ten days ago.
The winner of the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on the King George undercard last Boxing Day was the 3-1 market leader for the Christmas 3m feature prior to his latest start.
But the six-year-old, trained in tandem by Chantilly-based Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, can now be backed at 12-1 with William Hill after pulling up under James Reveley in the Grade 1 Prix la Haye Jousselin in Paris.
Extensive veterinary tests have failed to identify the cause of the flop, leading part-owner Nicolas de Lageneste to speculate that Auteuil – Il Est Francais has won three chases in the 16th arrondissement but has also suffered both of his defeats defeats over fences there – could be to blame.
“Perhaps the horse has a preference for Kempton instead of Auteuil – we hope so!” Lageneste said yesterday.
“After the tests, there isn’t a problem and the King George is still the target.”
While Willie Mullins’ ante-post favourite Gaelic Warrior won’t be travelling to Sunbury after his surprise defection at Tuesday’s acceptance stage, the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower, second to new Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Fact To File in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last Sunday, could make the trip.
“It wouldn’t be out of the question that he would be supplemented,” said Mangan, whose six-year-old is 6-1 in the ante-post betting for the King George. “We were thrilled with him and he seems fine.”
Envoi Allen, who finished a disappointing seventh of nine when challenging for the King George two years ago, now vies for favouritism with Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins.
This followed Willie Mullins decision to scratch all his eight entries the £250,000 Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton at the entry stage.
They included Gaelic Warrior who was promoted to the head of the betting and after Il Est Francais’s defeat. Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, Il Etait Temps, who won three times at Grade 1 level last term, Blue Lord, Capodanno, Ferny Hollow, Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner were the other withdrawals.
Previous race winners Hewick and Bravemansgame remain among the 16 still engaged.
