Ante-post King George favourite Il Est Francais lost his unbeaten record over fences when trailing home last of five in the Grade 2 Prix Murat at Auteuil on Saturday.

Ante-post King George favourite Il Est Francais lost his unbeaten record over fences when trailing home last of five in the Grade 2 Prix Murat at Auteuil on Saturday.

Despite a speculative entry in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, Il Est Francais is expected to skip the Festival in favour of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris.

Despite a speculative entry in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, Il Est Francais is expected to skip the Festival in favour of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris.

Il Est Francais proved he was the real deal when blitzing his rivals with an exemplary round of jumping in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton this afternoon.