King George VI Chase favourite pushed out to 10-1 after heavy defeat leads to major betting shake-up
FRENCH superstar Il Est Francais was pushed right out to 10-1 for the King George VI Chase after an abysmal run on Sunday.
The Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm-trained six-year-old had been the long-time favourite for Kempton’s big race, since bolting up at the same track on Boxing Day last year.
He was sent off the 6-4 favourite to win the Grade 1 Prix Haye Jousselin at Auteuil, but, having jumped off in the lead, he steadily lost ground and was pulled up by jockey James Reveley.
Co-trainer George said the horse appeared to be sound as he arrived back in the racecourse stable, saying the issue was likely caused by something ‘internal’.
Il Est Francais looked to have the world at his feet when winning in breathtaking fashion by 11 lengths in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase last Christmas.
But on his next start at Auteuil in April he ran a shocker, trailing in a well-beaten last of five runners in a Grade 2.
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He bounced back when winning easily on his seasonal reappearance last month, but this latest flop will give his connections major cause for concern.
He is now a huge doubt to run at Kempton next month, and George said: “The horse seems okay. We’re going to do all the checks and see what’s gone on.
“Obviously something’s gone wrong and we have to check what the problem is.”
Reveley added: “He was going well until the second time over the water jump, when I felt he was losing his action.
“I felt something was amiss and he didn’t have any gas or any action after the ‘Butte’ so I decided not to take a risk.
“I was happy on the first circuit, everything was good, no excuses. That’s the way it goes.”
There has been a major shake-up in the King George betting as a result.
Willie Mullins‘ Gaelic Warrior is the new favourite with the bookies, with his prices ranging from 5-2 to 7-2.
Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs is next best at 6-1, though he is highly unlikely to run, with Grey Dawning (6-1) and Il Etait Temps (8-1) also having been cut.
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