Il Est Francais remained unbeaten over hurdles with an authoritative and impressive victory on Sunday afternoon at Auteuil when successful in the G1 Prix Renaud du Vivier Hurdle (3900m) for UK based trainer Tom George.

Coming into the event, Il Est Français had a highly promising yet inexperienced career profile, however he proved his top-class ability when stretching clear by eight lengths to gain the champion four-year-old hurdler crown.

Raffles Odéon was a late non-runner which reduced the field to nine contesting the 3900m on heavy ground. In the early stages, there was a slow, sensible pace set by Hawaï du Berlais and Impressive Machin. The clear favourite in the market, Il Est Français was settled towards the back of the group.

There was a difference of opinion from the jockeys on where the best ground was throughout the contest as Pierre Dubourg and Gwen Richard stayed out wide on the bends, trying to find less churned up ground after the rain. As the field passed the stands, the large crowd of supporters of Ine Anjou added to the ambience increasing cheers with their filly leading for the final circuit. 

As the field raced downhill approaching halfway, the UK trained Il Est Français was making good headway racing into second, two lengths off the leader before the tempo was increased as they entered the back straight. James Reveley dived to the outside hedge on the hurdle course trying to gain an advantage which proved to be effective as by the second obstacle travelling along the back of the course the unbeaten hurdler reached the front.

The son of Karaktar continued to jump professionally and efficiently leading the runners into the home straight. Ine Anjou proved the main danger travelling a close second. Alain de Chitray took an extreme route around the final turn on Impressive Machin with the remaining runners well beaten a good twenty lengths off the leader turning for home. Approaching the last, it was a tired jump from Il Est Français, but he kept on finding and in determined fashion the four-year-old won the four-year-old hurdle championship in convincing style, eight lengths clear.

Il Est Français is a top-class performer with four victories and three placings from seven career starts and an unbeaten hurdle record of four from four.