'Kempton is tailor-made for him' - confidence behind French star Il Est Francais grows ahead of King George bid
Il Est Francais will head back to Kempton next week with confidence swelling among his entourage that a return to a course joint-trainer Noel George describes as "tailor-made" for his Ladbrokes King George hopeful will see a repeat of the devastating display he put up there as a novice 12 months ago.
Life has not been plain sailing in three starts at Auteuil for Il Est Francais since his emphatic victory in last season's Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase, with a resounding success sandwiched in between two below-par efforts.
The most recent of those, when pulled up in France's autumn highlight, the Prix la Haye Jousselin, cast some doubt on Il Est Francais' participation in the King George, a race for which he had been ante-post favourite.
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