My ‘bombshell’ development on Il Est Francais and where we might see him running next
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BOOKMAKERS don’t quote Il Est Francais for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but, if I was lucky enough to own him, that’s where I’d be heading. On that bombshell, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!. I did, although it would have been even merrier if Il Est Francais had done in the final two furlongs of the King George VI Chase what he had done in the previous 22!.
![[Il Est Francais jumped for fun in the King George but was just pipped late by Banbridge]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wins-ladbrokes-king-george-vi-959896624.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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SIGN UP NOW. 18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk. For the second consecutive year at Kempton on Boxing Day, Il Est Francais suggested he has freakish ability.
But, whereas last year he romped home in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, this time he was picked up by Banbridge. Afterwards, the immediate suggestion was the Ryanair Chase would now become the French raider’s ultimate target. But when I took jockey James Reveley to one side and asked him about the Champion chase, he didn’t dismiss it in any way whatsoever.
He might be a different colour, and ultimately he has a slightly different running style, but there’s a bit of One Man about Il Est Francais. The former King George winner, who took the festive prize in both 1995 and 1996, tried his luck in two Gold Cups, finishing a well beaten sixth as the 11-8 favourite in 1996 and the same position in 1997.
