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.

There were a couple of surprising names featured in the entries for the Cheltenham Festival novice chases.

Exciting French chaser Il Est Francais looks set to cross the English Channel as he bids to collect further top-level honours in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.