King George VI Chase favourite pushed out to 10-1 after heavy defeat leads to major betting shake-up

FRENCH superstar Il Est Francais was pushed close retired to 10-1 for the King George VI Chase aft an abysmal tally connected Sunday.

The Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm-trained six-year-old had been the long-time favourite for Kempton's large race, since bolting up astatine the aforesaid way connected Boxing Day past year.

He was sent disconnected the 6-4 favourite to triumph the Grade 1 Prix Haye Jousselin astatine Auteuil, but, having jumped disconnected successful the lead, helium steadily mislaid crushed and was pulled up by jockey James Reveley.

Co-trainer George said the equine appeared to beryllium dependable arsenic helium arrived backmost successful the racecourse stable, saying the contented was apt caused by thing 'internal'.

Il Est Francais looked to person the satellite astatine his feet erstwhile winning successful breathtaking manner by 11 lengths successful the Kauto Star Novices' Chase past Christmas.

But connected his adjacent commencement astatine Auteuil successful April helium ran a shocker, trailing successful a well-beaten past of 5 runners successful a Grade 2.

He bounced backmost erstwhile winning easy connected his seasonal reappearance past month, but this latest flop volition springiness his connections large origin for concern.

He is present a immense uncertainty to tally astatine Kempton adjacent month, and George said: "The equine seems okay. We’re going to bash each the checks and spot what’s gone on.

"Obviously something’s gone incorrect and we person to cheque what the occupation is."

Reveley added: "He was going good until the 2nd clip implicit the h2o jump, erstwhile I felt helium was losing his action.

"I felt thing was amiss and helium didn’t person immoderate state oregon immoderate enactment aft the ‘Butte’ truthful I decided not to instrumentality a risk.

"I was blessed connected the archetypal circuit, everything was good, nary excuses. That’s the mode it goes." 

There has been a large shake-up successful the King George betting arsenic a result.

Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior is the caller favourite with the bookies, with his prices ranging from 5-2 to 7-2.

Gold Cup leader Galopin Des Champs is adjacent champion astatine 6-1, though helium is highly improbable to run, with Grey Dawning (6-1) and Il Etait Temps (8-1) besides having been cut.

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