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Cheltenham Festival

Il Est Francais will 'probably' run in Ryanair if Fact To File goes for Gold Cup

Il Est Francais  and James Reveley winning the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton
Il Est Francais has a range of options at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Saturday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup will not just have an impact on those at Leopardstown, those watching the race on TV and the ante-post markets. The race's outcome will be eagerly awaited as far afield as Avilly-Saint-Léonard in France, the base of Noel George, joint-trainer of Cheltenham Festival candidate Il Est Francais.

However, George's gaze will not be focused on Galopin Des Champs – the odds-on favourite for the Grade 1 who is seeking a third win in the race – but rather second favourite Fact To File.

That is because the performance of the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old and the subsequent festival target for the gelding will directly impact which way George decides to lean with his narrow King George VI Chase runner-up.

Il Est Francais is currently a best-priced 7-1 for both the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase, and 33-1 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

George – who trains the seven-year-old with Amanda Zetterholm – would not rule out any of the three options, with the ground one of many factors that could have an influence, but he did reveal the single biggest determiner in which race they target will be avoiding Fact To File

"It's not guaranteed he'll go to the Ryanair. We'll be watching the racing in Ireland with intent this weekend," George said. "If Fact To File ended up running in the Gold Cup we'd likely go for the Ryanair, and I think he'd have a great chance in it, but if he were to drop into the Ryanair we're very much considering the Champion Chase."

George added: "It's ground dependent as well – on good ground we could even consider the Gold Cup, but it might just as easily be soft. There are so many things to consider, but if Fact To File doesn't run in the Ryanair we'll probably go there."

Il Est Francais is a two-time Grade 1 winner, landing the Prix Renaud du Vivier over hurdles at Auteuil in 2022 and the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton in 2023. He was a narrow second to Banbridge in the King George on his last start and will go straight to the Cheltenham Festival.

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 12)
Coral: 6-4 Jonbon, 3 Gaelic Warrior, 4 Banbridge, 9-2 Il Est Francais, 5 Spillane's Tower, El Fabiolo, 6 bar.

Ryanair Chase (Cheltenham, March 13)
Paddy Power: 7-2 Fact To File, 5 Spillane's Tower, 6 Il Est Francais, 7 Protektorat, 8 El Fabiolo, Gaelic Warrior, Banbridge, 12 bar.


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Deputy news editor

Published on inCheltenham Festival

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