'He didn't have any gas or any action' - Gaelic Warrior new King George favourite after Il Est Francais pulled up at Auteuil

Il Est Francais was pulled up having been sent off favourite for the Grade 1 Prix la Haye Jousselin with victory going instead to Gran Diose for trainer Louisa Carberry.

Ante-post favourite for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 26 before Sunday’s race, Il Est Francais will now undergo a thorough MOT after James Reveley called it a day early in the back straight on the final circuit.

"He was going well until the second time over the water jump, when I felt he was losing his action," said Reveley. "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." 

Joint-trainer Noel George added: "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."

James Reveley and Il Est Francais before the Prix La Haye Jousselin

Il Est Francais has been favourite for the King George on a virtually unbroken basis since producing an electric performance over the same three-mile course and distance at Kempton in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day last December.

Having been the general 3-1 market leader for the King George, Il Est Francais was pushed out to as big as 10-1 by William Hill, Sky Bet and Betfred, while other layers removed him from their markets. Gaelic Warrior was shortened to a general 5-2 favourite.

With Il Est Francais out of the race and second-favourite Juntos Ganamos making a serious error at the rail ditch and fence midway down the back straight, it was left to Gran Diose and Thomas Beaurain to take full advantage

Successful in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in the spring, the giant Gran Diose charged to victory at odds of 10-1 to give Carberry a fifth win in one of France's two major Grade 1 chases in as many seasons.

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Kempton, December 26)
Coral: 7-2 Gaelic Warrior, 7 Galopin Des Champs, 10 Grey Dawning, Il Est Francais, Il Etait Temps, 12 Protektorat, 14 Envoi Allen, Hewick, 16 bar.

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