Superstar horse Il Est Francais removed from yard and sent to new trainer as owner says it’s ‘time for someone else’

SportHorse Racing SUNBURY, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: James Reveley riding Il Est Francais (grey) comfortably win The Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chaseat Kempton Park Racecourse on December 26, 2023 in Sunbury, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) Credit: Getty SUPERSTAR chaser Il Est Francais has been removed from his current yard and sent to a new trainer – with his owner saying: “It’s time for someone else to have a go.” Il Est Francais produced one of the most devastating jumps performances in recent memory when scorching to victory in the 2023 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton. Il Est Francis was a superstar over fences but his career has hit the skids – his owner hopes Dan Skelton can bring about a revival after moving him to the champion trainer’s yard Credit: PA If anyone can bring Il Est Francais back to the force of old then it should be master trainer Skelton Credit: PA The now eight-year-old followed that up when just beaten into second by the fast-finishing Banbridge in the following year’s King George. Since then, however, Il Est Francais’ career has, it’s fair to say, been a case of ‘what if?’. Trained jointly by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm – with a most recent spell with Noel’s dad George – his last three runs have produced form figures of PU-PU-PU. And he has not won since claiming a hurdle race against much inferior opposition at Lyon in April 2025. The son of Karaktar who absolutely pinged fences in his prime has undergone wind surgery after he was reported to have ‘stopped quickly’ on two of his past three runs by his jockeys. Owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes and wife Lizzie, Il Est Francais has been listed on the BHA website as being under the care of Dan Skelton since last month. Kelvin-Hughes said the decision to leave Tom George’s yard was a friendly one, with all parties just eager to see the horse return to his former glory. And he suggested the Skelton family’s links to showjumping and different techniques used to get the best from horses was behind their decision. Most read in Horse Racing He told the Racing Post: “We all know Il Est Francais has fragile lungs, and the Skeltons, with their contacts in showjumping and in the US, have lots of different ideas to try and make it work for him. “They have a regime that’s worked already for half a dozen horses who are similar to him, and every trainer does things differently so we all think it’s worth a go. “Dan has a lot of strategies for everything he does and he has a few for him, too. “What Il Est Francais needs is to get his appetite and love back for being a racehorse.” Champion trainer Skelton has had a busy summer season, with a whole host of new recruits joining his ranks. Among them is the JP McManus-owned Walkonseas, a £500,000 sale-topper who’s ‘never put a foot wrong’. FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Comment now