'I think we're in the right race' - Il Est Francais joint-trainer Noel George dismisses course concerns for French ace in Ryanair

If the start of this year's Cheltenham Festival taught us anything it is that a sure thing is far less certain than we once thought. 

Fact To File has been all the rage for the Ryanair Chase since Willie Mullins' decision to bypass the Gold Cup and opt for the shorter trip but he faces a rival with the potential to upset him – provided Il Est Francais finds the right answers to the many questions hanging over him. 

The French-trained seven-year-old certainly has an abundance of talent, and on the days where he shines, such as at Kempton over the last two seasons, he is a credible threat to the JP McManus favourite. His most recent outing when tearing away in the King George filled connections with confidence and it took a smart performance from Banbridge to reel him in on favourable ground.

His front-running style adds intrigue to this year's Ryanair as jockeys will have to make a decision early on if they let him take an easy lead, which resulted in a ten-length gap between him and the field on Boxing Day. Noel George, who trains alongside Amanda Zetterholm, seems happy enough for Il Est Francais to again take up the baton if no-one else is willing, but insists their overriding priority is to focus on their own running. 

"We'll line up as if we're going to go in front, but if someone wants to go quicker than us we'll slot in behind," George said.  

"I think the main thing is he needs to get into his rhythm and not break it. James knows him very well and he'll just sit where he's happy. I'd imagine it would probably be in front, but he's fairly versatile and the main thing is just not to break his stride." 

A happy horse is often successful one but Il Est Francais may find it harder to keep a rhythm on his first start at Cheltenham compared to the flatter conditions at Kempton or Auteuil. 

For George, that is the big question mark, but another uncertainty remains over his inconsistent record, which includes two disappointing finishes in his last four starts. Il Est Francais burst blood vessels on more than one occasion and it is hard to be fully confident which version will show up today. 

"He's in great form and I think we're in the right race," George added. "He's never run at Cheltenham, so that's the question. The fences come thick and fast and he wings his jumps, so I think that should help him here. 

"James [Reveley, jockey] seemed to think it was very much good ground on Tuesday, so although there was a little bit of snow on Wednesday I don't think we're due any more rain. We get fresh ground on Thursday, so there's every reason to think things will definitely suit him. He travelled over well and went out on Wednesday morning and seems in great form. He's settled in nicely, so we're looking forward to it."

If Il Est Francais does produce a big run, he may set off for home early and never have to look back. It would not be the strangest thing to come out of this year's festival after all.  

Top judges 

'Il Est Francais has got questions to answer' - Richard Johnson

I think it's perhaps the most competitive championship race of the week. I think they were hoping Fact To File would be a Gold Cup horse but he hasn't been able to match Galopin Des Champs in Ireland. He acts around the track and the question is whether he'll be as effective over this trip.

Il Est Francais put in a brilliant performance in the King George. If you stopped the race turning in, the speed and the way he jumped was incredible. If the same horse turns up, he'd be the one I'd probably want to ride as this could be his ideal trip. He's very exciting and fits the bill if he can get into a good rhythm around Cheltenham. The undulations are new for him, so he's got questions to answer, and he does have the odd disappointing run.

Protektorat was brilliant at Windsor. Dan Skelton knows how to get him right. He won this last year and I think he's the standard the other two have to get to. You know he'll run his race, he loves Cheltenham and has been trained with this in mind. I'd be amazed if he doesn't run a very solid race.

Il Est Francais: chased home Banbridge in the King GeorgeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

'There are plenty of holes in Fact To File's form' - Tom Segal

There is no doubt that Fact To File has loads of talent but there are also plenty of holes in his form and I'm not quite sure how much he achieved in the Irish Gold Cup last time.

He jumped well, settled well and still couldn't hold off Grangeclare West for second in a slowly run race. That wouldn't be good enough to win this and his form probably isn't as good as Il Est Francais' or Protektorat's yet. 

There might be more to come and he's got an excellent Cheltenham Festival record but he looks underpriced on what he's actually achieved to date.

'There's a plausible reason why he's struggled' - Scott Burton

If a turbulent first day reminded us of anything it's that the pressure cooker of the Cheltenham Festival places a premium on jumping fluency like no other meeting.

Il Est Francais arrives here with a deserved reputation as a straight-A student in that department, and James Reveley will aim to make easy lengths at each fence aboard a horse also blessed with a high cruising speed. 

On the evidence of his final schooling session last Tuesday the King George runner-up heads to the Ryanair in excellent shape, with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm reporting a flawless preparation, light years from the rushed recovery mission which characterised the build-up to Kempton. 

The two questions Il Est Francais must answer are his unfamiliarity with Cheltenham – indeed his lack of experience on anything other than a pancake-flat track – and the two times he has cut out at Auteuil, with issues surrounding burst blood vessels.

The George/Zetterholm team have worked tirelessly on his physical health, while jumping Auteuil's enormous ditches and water jump out of deep ground is a perfectly plausible reason as to why he has struggled on occasions.

'I'd be very surprised if he wins' - Aidan Coleman

There are no question marks about Il Est Francais' jumping but the track would be a huge worry for me. I really think he would have been more at home in the Champion Chase. I didn't think he'd get up the hill the first time, let alone twice in the Ryanair! 

Apart from all that, there's no guarantee he'll show up, as for two of his last four runs he's been atrocious. I could never really fancy bleeders, it's a big negative for me, and while of course they can win again and he ran really well in the King George, I couldn't have him.

I'd be very surprised if he wins, and I'd side with Fact To File. He's won one of the best races of the year so far and they tried three miles and it didn't work, but it might be an avenue they explore next season. He's a double festival winner and I think two miles five round here will suit him fine.

Protektorat 'best he's ever been' ahead of Ryanair defence

One trainer unconcerned by Il Est Francais taking up the pace is Dan Skelton, who is full of confidence as Protektorat bids for a second Ryanair. 

The ten-year-old is in the form of his life according to the trainer as he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph when he stormed home by four lengths from Envoi Allen here 12 months ago. 

Protektorat: defends Ryanair crownCredit: Alan Crowhurst (racingpost.com/photos)

This intermediate trip has been his game ever since, and he produced a joint-best Racing Post Rating of 172 last time out when winning the Fleur de Lys in fine style at Windsor in January.

Skelton said: "It looks a competitive race this year but he's in great form, I think the best he's ever been in, which at ten years old is remarkable. He'll run very, very well and I think he'll put up a great defence of his crown.

"Il Est Francais could go forward and that would lead us on a strong gallop, so it'll be a question of how smooth he can be and how much the others will be in touch at the top of the hill. It's going to be interesting, and having a horse like Il Est Francais in it should make it good viewing."

Fact To File has finished in the top two in both starts at the festival and should find today's extended two miles and four furlongs much more his tempo than three miles after beating Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in the John Durkan in November.

Envoi Allen: Rachael Blackmore's mount reported in great formCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

Rachael Blackmore, rider of Envoi Allen
He loves Cheltenham. He never seems to run well at Kempton, so you can draw a line through his run in the King George. I know he's 11 but, riding him out in Cheltenham this week, he doesn't ride like an 11-year-old. It's an exciting race, but he's in great form and I'm looking forward to it.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Hang In There
It's a massive ask but he's a smashing horse, and we thought we'd throw the dice and give him a go at level weights. We're under no illusions and they're very smart horses, but it'll be the only opportunity where he's not giving away lumps of weight to his rivals. The more it dries the better and I don't think he stays three miles, so this will be his ideal trip. I think if we can pick up some prize-money we'd be delighted.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Master Chewy
We're hoping he'll improve for the step up to two and a half miles. He's bred for it and he always stays on in every race.

Read our day Cheltenham Festival day three previews:

1.20 Cheltenham: 'We're hoping she can reach a high level' - Maughreen and Sixandahalf clash in Mares' Novices' Hurdle 

2.00 Cheltenham: Market leaders look ripe for the taking - expert analysis for the new novice handicap chase 

2.40 Cheltenham: Qualifier winners have a terrible record in the Pertemps, so who is best placed to take advantage? 

4.00 Cheltenham: 'I couldn't believe the opposition to him' - Johnny Dineen expects a lively Stayers' Hurdle market with ante-post favourite unpopular 

4.40 Cheltenham: 'He's no less of a handicap snip for taking on seasoned chasers' - expert analysis and trainer quotes for the Plate 

5.20 Cheltenham: Another Kim Muir for McManus? Leading owner double-handed in attempt to follow up success of Inothewayurthinkin 

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