French horse Il Est Francais has already made a bit of a splash in the UK over the past two seasons, and we’re set to see a little more of him during the upcoming season.
It was announced that the seven year old be trained in Britain and would be under the care of Tom George. This move has come on the back of an ownership change too, the horse is now fully owned by Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, whose colours he has been seen in.
They had owned 50%, along with his breeder, Nicolas de Lageneste, but they’ve now bought his half to have complete control over the horse.
Tom George explained the decision by saying the horse has spent the summer with the new owners, and they’ve had time to get to know him and test whether he’s more suited to British training. As George put it, “There isn’t really the best programme for him in France. There are more options for him over here.”
He noted that Il Est Francais prefers right-handed courses, another argument in favour of staying on UK soil.
Intriguing Addition to 2025/26 Jumps Season
Il Est Francais has already stamped himself as a horse of real potential. In 2023, he won the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton in impressive fashion.
He also ran a strong second in last year’s King George VI Chase, showing he can mix it in top company.
That said, he is not without his questions, and the biggest of them concerns his health and his ability to be consistent throughout the season, rather than just showing big glimpses here and there. These questions are hopefully something he can answer this season, in a positive way.
He’s had physical issues, twice suffering from bleeding, and recently he’s tasted defeat in a Listed hurdle at Compiegne, when he was sent off odds on. That defeat was a reminder that consistency, and potentially health, remains a work in progress for this runner.
Personally, I prefer the idea of keeping him in Britain this season, and to be honest, I think he will remain here for the rest of his career, regardless of what he does. He’s got the chance to have a clear race plan. If things go well, there are some big targets. If things don’t go well, there are plenty of lower-grade races at the Listed level that would be suitable and offer decent prize money still.
Of course, it’s the UK that offers him the best chance to make a name for himself. We don’t want to see him go back and forth between us and France, we want him, we want him to be a star, and we want him in all of our top races.
King George Named as First Target
Trainer George and the owners have already named their first major target, the King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26. It’s unlikely that he will go there without a run, so expect to see him on a course anytime from between the new Welsh Racing Festival to the start of December, so there’s plenty of options to look at.
It’s a bold call, given the strength of that race, but understandable given his past performance in it. I like the fact that they’re not taking things slowly and are clearly hoping that being in the UK full-time means this horse will be as good as before, if not better.
It may not work, and may be a step too far for him, but there’s no doubting that. But if it works, this could be a defining season for Il Est Francais, one where he climbs from potential star into real-life star.
All this said, I do have some doubts. The move is bold but comes with risk. A horse with recurring bleeding issues and form inconsistencies can be delicate to program, and easy to lose if they get disheartened by defeat.
I’m excited and can’t wait to see where he goes first, but at the same time, I’m certainly very cautious when it comes to predicting success.
