'Very exciting' - Tom George maps out plan for jumping's top-rated young star

Il Est Francais, a rising star over jumps in France, will not be seen in action in Britain over the Christmas period, with connections instead deciding to work back from the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in May.

An impressive winner of the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier last month from trainer Tom George's satellite yard in France, Il Est Francais is unbeaten in four runs over hurdles at Auteuil and the Racing Post Rating of 155 he earned for his latest victory makes him the highest-rated four-year-old hurdler in training in Britain, Ireland or France.

Owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes, a prominent owner-breeder in Britain, and his former trainer Nicolas de Lageneste, who also bred the son of Karaktar, Il Est Francais had been considered for a campaign over fences in Britain, potentially starting at Kempton over Christmas.

However, although he will eventually make the move to George's main base in Gloucestershire, he is set to remain over hurdles in France for the time being.

"He's not going to come over for Kempton and his main target is going to be the French Champion Hurdle in the spring," said George.

"It was a joint decision between his two owners, myself and [son] Noel. The four of us decided that was the best route with him and he'll have a couple of prep races in the spring before the French Champion Hurdle.

"We just thought we didn't need to run him over fences yet and didn't think there was much to achieve at this stage doing that. We're going to stick to the French hurdles and he'll go novice chasing after that."

George plans to set up a permanent second yard in Chantilly in the near future, which will be run by 23-year-old Noel, who has been looking after the likes of Il Est Francais in France and is close to completing the French trainers' course.

George's ultimate plan is to have a team of horses who have the flexibility to run on both sides of the Channel.

He added: "The whole target with Il Est Francais is that he'll be seen in Britain and in France. That's the reason for the partnership between Richard Kelvin-Hughes and Nicolas de Lageneste. They both want to see him competing in the best races in both countries and decided the French Champion Hurdle is the best route for him at this stage.

"His rating says it all and he's a very exciting horse. He's got size, scope and the right temperament. He's got it all ahead of him."

Un Temps Pour Tout, Ptit Zig and L'Ami Serge have won the French Champion Hurdle for British-based trainers in the past decade.

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