News
Monday August 17 2026
Dan Skelton Hoping For Il Est Francais Revival
Owner Richard Kelvin Hughes has announced he has transferred National Hunt horse Il Est Français to the stable of champion trainer Dan Skelton. The eight-year-old, former Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner, previously raced for Tom George. Hughes described the split as amicable, while Skelton has described it as “an exciting challenge” while acknowledging it won’t be easy.
Il Est Français
Il Est Français was a Grade 1 winner in France, first winning over hurdles for Tom George before snagging the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in 2023 under the tutelage of George’s son Noel George, and former flat jockey Amanda Zetterholm.
Il Est Français’ status as a rising star was further boosted by a second-placed finish at the 2024 King George VI Chase after an epic front-running performance. However, he struggled during the 2024/25 season, leading to the Hughes buying out their French co-owners and shipping him to Britain.
Under George, the horse failed to show any signs of improvement, pulling up in his three races with the stable.
According to the Kelvin Hugheses, Skelton will use his contacts to help overcome the horse’s fragile lungs, saying: “They have a regime that’s worked already for half a dozen horses who are similar to him, and every trainer does things differently so we all think it’s worth a go.”
Skelton success
Dan Skelton enjoyed a formidably successful National Hunt season. Having finally picked up two winners at Plumpton in the track’s final meeting of the season, he followed this up with victory at Perth, becoming the first trainer with winners at every jumps track in a season. Skelton also picked up his first Champion Trainer title, having been narrowly beaten by Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls, in the past.
Horse racing has endured a partial decline in recent years, driven primarily by reduced betting revenue and increased taxes and levies. But, it remains one of the most popular pastimes in the UK and is still the second most viewed spectator sport in the country.
Its popularity has made household names of leading jockeys, trainers, and owners. It’s been the subject of books, TV shows, and movies. It has become a highly popular setting for casino games and online slot machines, with games like Big Horsey Fortune and Gold Horsey Winner.
The sport benefits from leading trainers like Skelton, who has also recently hit headlines when he became the trainer of Kaiser Ball. Kaiser Ball is a £360,000 Irish prospect bought by a group consisting of Harry Redknapp, Susan and Graham Carsberg, Anthony Wilding, and Paul Morrall.
Kaiser Ball won a Fairyhouse bumper on his debut and finished third at a race in Limerick before being put up for auction. Agent Tom Malone started the bidding at £100,000 before eventually winning the 6-year-old for £360,000.
The high price tag came as a result of the horse’s hurdles debut at Limerick. He finished third to King Rasko Grey, who has since won two Grade 1s, and Shuttle Diplomacy, which has also shown strong form since.
