Prix la Haye Jousselin (Chase) (Grade 1)

THE King George betting market took a shake up on Sunday, with the eclipse of the favourite Il Est Francais. Exciting winner of the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton last Christmas, this was his second disappointment since.

With the favourite pulled up before five out, it was left to Gran Diose and Thomas Beaurain to take full advantage to give Louisa Carberry a fifth win in one of France’s two major Grade 1 chases in as many seasons.

Also successful in the Grade 1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in the spring, Gran Diose charged to victory at odds of 10/1. Second-favourite Juntos Ganamos made a serious error at the rail ditch and fence midway down the back straight,

On the favourite, joint trainer Noel George reported that the horse was not lame after the race and his co-owner Nicolas de Lageneste suspecting a pulmonary haemorrhage.

A statement from Il Est Francais’ trainers on X on Monday said: “Physically all is well with Il Est Francais after being pulled up at Auteuil yesterday.

“We are sending him to the top veterinary clinic in France to have a full examination. As for the future plans, we will decide in due course.”

Something amiss

“He was going well until the second time over the water jump, when I felt he was losing his action,” said Reveley.

“I felt something was amiss and he didn’t have any gas or any action, so I decided not to take a risk. I was happy [on the first circuit], everything was good, no excuses. That’s the way it goes.”

Having been the general 3/1 market leader for the King George, Il Est Francais was pushed out to as big as 10/1. Gaelic Warrior was shortened to a general 5/2 favourite.

The Grade 1 on the Saturday, the three-mile Prix Serge Landon - Grand Prix d’Automne (Hurdle) went to the odds-on favourite Losange Bleu (Martaline), who made virtually all under Johnny Charron for trainer Daniel Bressou.

Also on the Sunday card, the three-year-old Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres - Grande Course de Haies des 3 ans (Hurdle) over two miles, two furlongs was won by Sain D’Esprit for jockey Angelo Zuliani and winning trainer Francois Nicolle.

The four-year-old Kaadam (Saint Des Saints) and jockey Gaetan Masure were a wide-margin winners, justifying favouritism in the last Grade 1, the Prix Maurice Gillois - Grand Steeple-Chase des 4 ans (Chase) over two miles and six for trainer Andre Chaille-Chaille.