No Triumph for Nietzsche Has conqueror - but trainer has future Gold Cup plan for France's best hurdler

Francois Nicolle will resist the temptation of targeting the JCB Triumph Hurdle with Sain D'Esprit, the horse who defeated impressive Chepstow Grade 2 winner Nietzsche Has on his previous start.

However, the multiple champion jumps trainer of France has his eyes fixed on future Cheltenham Festivals with his other stable star Kingland, whose part-owners, Lynne and Angus MacLennan, hope will turn into a Gold Cup contender in time. 

One of the key themes of the jumps season in Britain has been the increased willingness of French-based trainers to send horses across the English Channel, and a couple of bookmakers priced up Prix Cambaceres winner Sain D'Esprit for the Triumph in the wake of an eight-length success in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle for Nietzsche Has, who was making his last start at Chepstow for owner Edward James before heading to stud at Haras de Montaigu.

"Sain D’Esprit doesn’t have that on his radar at the moment – I don’t see him heading over any time soon," said Nicolle. "Kingland is much more likely to travel but it’s more probable that will be next year rather than this."

Kevin Nabet and Kingland return after winning the Prix Pepinvast at AuteuilCredit: Racing Post/Burton

Kingland stamped himself the leader of his generation in France when surging to a nine-length success in Auteuil's Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier for four-year-old hurdlers in November, and ahead of stepping into open company this spring is already rated 2lb superior to the country's best senior hurdler, Losange Bleu. 

"Lynne and Angus MacLennan would love to run him in the Gold Cup eventually," said Nicolle. "He’ll stay over hurdles at Auteuil in the spring because the Grand Course de Haies is a race that should be well within his compass, and then he’ll definitely go chasing in the autumn. 

"It could be that next winter we’ll have a little dart at Britain, although there are other owners including Thierry Cypres to consult, so everyone would need to be on board with the idea. But why not?"

Owned principally by former France Galop vice president Jacques Detre, Sain D'Esprit is already built to take on the chase course at Auteuil and looks set to remain at home.

Francois Nicolle: "Sain D'Esprit is a monster and still growing"Credit: Racing Post/Burton

Nicolle said: "Sain D’Esprit has the four-year-old programme at Auteuil and there is a lot of money attached to those races. He is already 1m 70cm – he’s a monster and he’s still growing so I see him as a horse for the Grand Steeple-Chase in the long run. 

"We’ll see what he does at four but I imagine he’ll follow the French programme. We might think about it [Britain] next winter but there’s so much more money for a horse like him in France. If we did come it would be for the sport."

In addition to Nietzsche Has winning at Chepstow, the David Cottin-trained Jet Blue won a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham and Il Est Francais finished second in the King George VI Chase, making it a successful December for French raiders.

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