'We miss out on so much key development' - Tom George feels lack of top class British-bred jumps horses needs addressing

Twelve-time Grade 1 winner Tom George has pointed to the lack of British-bred jumps horses at the top of the sport as evidence British racing needs to change to better develop young talent.
George, who spent last weekend in Paris watching his son Noel win the French Champion Hurdle with five-year-old "future Gold Cup hope" El Clavel, is of the opinion British-bred horses are not inferior to their French or Irish counterparts, but the system for developing talent in those countries is much better.
On Racing Post Ratings none of the top 20 jumps horses to race in Britain or Ireland last season were bred in Britain, with 11 bred in France, eight in Ireland and one, Gaelic Warrior, in Germany.
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