Cheltenham Festival: French raiders hoping to make an impact

The annual battle between British and Irish-trained runners promises to be closer than in recent years at the Cheltenham Festival but do not discount runners from France also having a say in matters.

Francois Doumen flew the flag for the French on many occasions at the meeting, with The Fellow landing the 1994 Gold Cup and Baracouda scooping back-to-back editions of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2002-03.

However, six years have slipped by since France last struck at the meeting, when Easysland, trained by Jonathan Plouganou and ridden by David Cottin, won the Cross-Country Chase.

Cottin has since turned to the training ranks and has eyes on the same race with Karre D’As, a general 16-1 chance who features among 23 entries.

The six-year-old mare has won four of her nine races, including twice at Grade Three level, but has been absent since unseating her rider in the Prix Georges Courtois at Auteuil in December.

She’s been given an official rating of 145 and if last year’s winner, Stumptown, stands his ground, then she will have an attractive 10st 7lb to carry.

Karre D’As is also entered in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase on the final day of the meeting, for which she is quoted at 33-1.

The highlight on the last day, of course, is the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and Gold Tweet could represent Gabriel Leenders.

He will come in under the radar, having finished third in the Prix la Haye Jousselin at Auteuil in November and fifth over hurdles in his prep run at Fontainebleau this week, but British fans will be familiar with a horse who sprung a 14-1 surprise in the Cleeve Hurdle in 2023 before failing to reproduce that form in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

One of France’s biggest stars of recent years has been Theleme, who remains engaged in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

The five-time Grade One winner has won ten of his 17 races over hurdles and only once finished out of the first three, earning his connections more than £1 million in prize money.

He was a leading fancy for the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2024 but missed the race through injury and has remained on the sidelines ever since.

The nine-year-old still has time to revive his career but has not run since romping home in the Prix Serge Landon - Grand Prix d'Automne at Auteuil for a second time in November 2023. He is a general 25-1 chance.

One French raider with less of a cloud hanging over him is Stencil, owned by JP McManus and trained by Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm.

This handsome five-year-old fluffed his lines when favourite for the Fred Winter 12 months ago but has since made a promising start over fences, winning with plenty to spare at Chepstow last time.

He’s a likely sort for the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, for which he is a 16-1 chance, while his stablemate, Al Fonce, is a possible for the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle after her close third to St Irene at Taunton last time.

There could also be a French flavour to the JCB Triumph Hurdle via Shezala, trained by Pascal Journiac.

Regardless of how the French-trained runners perform, there influence will be all around.

French-breds are never far from the winner’s enclosure at the meeting, especially in the juvenile contests and races for mares, with such as Lossiemouth and Dinoblue having risen to the fore and again well fancied.