King George VI Chase: Banbridge denies gallant Il Est Francais in thriller

Banbridge came from the clouds to snatch the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase from Il Est Francais.

The French raider, trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, had put in a spectacular display of jumping under James Reveley and turning into straight had extended his lead back out to around 10 lengths.

However, Paul Townend on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge (7-1) was working up a real head of steam and was making ground hand over fist on the exuberant front-runner, who had been so spectacular on this card 12 months ago.

Beginning to tire, Il Est Francais got in too tight to the last, handing Banbridge a chance and when he met it on a long stride, he landed with all the momentum and went on to win by a length and three-quarters.

Illustrating the way that the race was run with Il Est Francais putting them to the sword from some way out, some very good horses simply never got involved.

The likes of Spillane’s Tower, Envoi Allen and Grey Dawning, who made an early blunder, were never at the races.

It was L’Homme Presse, having his first run of the season, who fared best of the rest in third with The Real Whacker justifying the decision to supplement him by finishing fourth for a second successive year.

O’Brien said: “It’s a special win. I’m delighted for Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) and the team. He’s been a special horse for us over the last number of years.

“To win a race like the King George is dream stuff, although I feel a bit sorry for JJ (Slevin, regular jockey who was riding in Ireland) who has a great association with the horse but wasn’t able to come and ride him today. Paul gave him a great ride. It’s a very special day.

“Kempton is a flat track and over this distance speed is emphasised more than at other places. Paul was happy to find a nice rhythm and the race panned out well for him.

“I actually thought Il Est Francais was gone turning for home but our horse made a sustained run all the way to the line. His resolution and stamina was tested, but he had enough for today.

“It’s really special, I grew up watching it, to have a runner is special but the winner is a dream come true.

“We’ll enjoy today, see how he pulls up and discuss plans and see what we’d all like to do.”

He added: “After Punchestown Ronnie rang me and said he’d like to have a go at the King George, we made a plan to have two runs over two miles to sharpen his jumping, we had the headgear back on and we felt he was ready to run his legs off.” 

A drop back in trip could be on the cards for Il Est Francais after a bold front-running performance saw the French raider pick up the silver medal.

Trained in partnership by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, the six-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 12 months ago, but returned to Sunbury with questions to answer after being pulled up on his most recent outing on home soil at Auteuil.

Il Est Francais roared back to form in some style, however, leading his rivals a merry dance for much of Kempton’s Boxing Day showpiece before eventually being reeled in by Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge under a well-judged ride from Paul Townend.

Il Est Francais was 10 lengths clear of the remainder in second and his Yorkshire-born rider James Reveley was proud of his performance in defeat.

“Honestly, I was just going really easy like last year. I felt like I was in second gear all the way round and when I looked behind me and saw I was 20 lengths clear, I couldn’t believe it.

“He just ran out of a bit of petrol coming to two out and I was meeting the last wrong and I didn’t feel like I had enough gas to ask him for a long one, so I had to let him pop it.

“He was brave and gutsy and we were a good second, but we were beaten by a better horse on the day.

“It was all we could ask really, for him to put in his real performance, and I think a drop back in trip might be on the agenda. He might be a Ryanair type.”

While Reveley feels the Ryanair Chase could be a suitable Cheltenham Festival target, George was left considering an even more significant drop in distance for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“We know he loves it here and we’ll watch the replay and discuss with the owner what the plans are, but you’d be excited to come back here next year anyway,” he said.

“He’s obviously disappointed at Auteuil and I don’t think we’ll be running there on heavy ground ever again. If it’s good ground, you might consider it, but obviously he’s very good here and I think we’ve got to discuss it with all the owners.

“He could even run in the Champion Chase, I don’t think he’d be out of place, but I’ve got to watch the replay and discuss it with everyone. It’s exciting problems to have.

“We wore our heart on our sleeve anyway, we didn’t complicate things and it seems to have paid off. Obviously you’d like to win, but he’s run a cracker and it’s great to get him back.”

Venetia Williams was similarly thrilled with the performance of the third-placed L’Homme Presse, who had not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March but kept on well for Charlie Deutsch.

“It’s not often that you say thank you for third, but I think in this case, we very much do,” she said.

“He’s finished a very solid third and was the first home of the British horses. He was the only one coming into the race without having had a run this season and it probably wasn’t completely his ground anyway, so you’d have to be absolutely delighted.

“Charlie’s given him a fantastic ride and given him every chance.”

Last season, L’Homme Presse won the Fleur Du Lys Chase at Lingfield in late January, but a switch of venue means he is unlikely to defend his crown.

Williams added: “That trip round Windsor is not for him, it was fine when it was round Lingfield, but we’ll look elsewhere.”

The clear favourite for the King George come the off was 11-4 chance Spillane’s Tower, with Jimmy Mangan’s stable star having pushed fellow JP McManus-owned rising star Fact To File close in the John Durkan at Punchestown a month ago.

However, the six-year-old never really threatened to land a telling blow and passed the post in fifth place, one position ahead of the other McManus runner Corbetts Cross.

Connections of both horses had voiced concerns about underfoot conditions beforehand, but McManus said afterwards: “I don’t think we’ve any excuses, we were beaten fair and square.

“I don’t think anybody could complain about the ground – it’s lovely ground. We just didn’t have the ammunition, that’s the bottom line.”

Betfair Chase winner Grey Dawning was pulled up and Dan Skelton said: “He made a mistake at the first but that was it, the writing was on the wall really.

“We weren’t really where we needed to be and with the speed of the race, I wouldn’t say it caught us out, we just were never where we needed to be and never in a rhythm after that first jump because they went so quick.

“Maybe the race did come soon enough (after Haydock) but you can’t say that for certain because it’s not like he’s travelled round and not got up the straight. That’s racing and we have to put a line through it, it’s all we can do.

“The second horse blew the race apart and caught a lot of the three milers out, really. The only horse who could catch him is one who could run over two miles.

“We definitely won’t go for the Fleur De Lys, Protektorat will go there and I would say not about the Cotswold. I really don’t know what we do next. His owner’s on holiday at the moment and when he’s back, I’ll have a chat with him.”