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Starting this mainly to highlight the ‘French’ challenger, Il Est Francais, now that he’s a confirmed entry. Trained and raced in France, but with an English trainer, Noel George (and partner), and 50% English owned.
A high class hurdler, winner of 5 of his 6 starts, including the 4yo hurdle championship Grade 1 race in November 2022. Had some time off after his defeat in March in a prep race for the French Champion Hurdle, which he missed as a result. Switched to chasing this autumn and has won both starts in some style. The latest was a 5yo only Listed race over 4,400m at Auteuil, in which he made all and was never challenged. You can watch this here:
https://www.equidia.fr/courses/2023-11-12/R1/C1
Noel George has arranged for three UK style fences to be provided at his French training ground and is very confident about his horse coping with the challenge of running at Kempton. The key difference is that all his runs to date, hurdle and chase, have been at left handed Auteuil.
Paul Nicholls has entered Hermes Allen and he seems likely to be the best of the home trained runners. Willie Mullins has two entries, Grangeclare West and Klassical Dream, both of whom also have an entry in a Grade 1 over 2M 4f at Limerick next week. Gordon Elliott has entered his French bred 5yo, Imagine, who is untried at the trip and has an entry in a 2M 1f Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.
If they all turn up this could be the race of the meeting – was most impressed with Klassical Dream on his debut, so would really like to see him travel over.
I’d imagine with Allaho coming over Grangeclare west may travel too and klassical dream runs at Leopardstown instead
I think it’s a pretty bad idea to run giovinco in this race after the slog against stay away fay not long ago
If Klassical Dream travels, he’d be my pick.
Otherwise Grangeclare West or Hermes Allen. I’m leaning more to Hermes Allen.
Grangeclare West came with a big reputation but was found wanting twice at G1 level over hurdles, so not sure if he would be up to that task on just his 2nd chase start to be honest.
He doesn’t strike me as the kind of horse to be suited by Kempton’s sharp flat 3m course, whereas Klassical Dream is a 7 time G1 winner from 2m to 3m and would have much better tactical speed for a test around Kempton.
FF – Neither are entered at Leopardstown for the Racing Post Chase which is 2m1F anyway and Willie has Facile Vega going there to. Limerick’s undulations may be a better test for Grangeclare West and the opposition there might not be quite as stiff either.
I meant the 3 mile grade 1 at Leopardstown not the 2m1f
They are both in the 3 mile one at this stage
Gaelic warrior will likely run at limerick
I would guess
Klassical Dream- Kempton
Grangeclare West – Leopardstown
Gaelic Warrior – LimerickI’d prefer Klassical Dream around Kempton.
Can see why FF is saying it- ownership etc. but i’d have thought the right races would be the other way round.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!The Feltham Novice Chase first appeared as part of the Kempton Xmas meeting in 1975, having been introduced a year earlier, when the race title was the Berni Inns Steeplechase (Qualifier). Based on ancient memory of that outfit, I presume every runner qualified for a prawn cocktail, rump steak and apple pie with ice cream – in 1974 that was a sophisticated night out! With guaranteed candlelight added during the three day week.
And if Klassical Dream wins next Tuesday, he’ll be the first 9yo winner in all those years since.
Nice history APRacing, as far as my limited memory goes, only one winning horse has gone on to win at the Cheltenham festival that season.
Coneygree, and not in a Novice chase.
I do stand to be corrected, but I wont be backing the winner of this to win at Cheltenham come March.That made me smile AP I can see the Berni Inn menu now
A Berni Inn menu from 1970. What are you having? pic.twitter.com/WXEtNNK7zM
— Love The 1970s (@LoveThe1970s) November 14, 2021
The more I know the less I understand.
The shocking thing about that menu in terms of the state of British cuisine is that you could easily find a menu with the same things on it 46 years later!
I do stand to be corrected, but I wont be backing the winner of this to win at Cheltenham come March.
Then Klassical Dream definitely fits the bill as for me over 3m Cheltenham ain’t his track..
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Quite true that this race has been no sort of guide to future success at Cheltenham, although Might Bite fell at the last when 18L clear in this race and went on to win at the festival.
When I saw Alan had started a thread here I thought: “There must be a horse of unusual interest that is the peg to hang it on, Il Est Francais is the most out of left field (well, out of a French field, actually) among the entries, I wonder if it’s him?”
If only I could have had a bet on it!
Anyway, Ive been following the horse’s progress with great interest, he’s been doing all his winning in Very Soft or Heavy ground, but I’d say the ground often isn’t as bad as described at Auteuil and I don’t think a slightly more resilient surface at Kempton Park would be an issue.
He’d be racing right-handed and into unknown territory from two out, though.
Re Berni Inn, I was first taken to one by my father when I was 14 in 1977.
As a first time steak eater, he recommended I have my steak well done.
Nowadays I’d have it medium, medium rare or rare, depending on the cut.
Eight ounce steak, onion rings, a cooked tomato, peas and chips, no sauce it was.
Nowadays it would have to be Bearnaise or Peppercorn for me.
I’d suggest Beefeater is the modern equivalent of Berni Inn as, among the steakhouse chains, Miller & Carter is a cut above either.
Anyway, the Feltham as was – can’t wait and I agree with those who say it’s potentially the race of the meeting.
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