Flying the flag for France – but George and Reveley still local heroes

Il Est Francais could have the French flag flying high at the Cheltenham Festival. But for Noel George and James Reveley it could prove a triumphant homecoming for the British-born duo central to Gallic ambitions.

Alongside Fred Winter hope Stencil, Il Est Francais is the main attraction in a stellar if select hand for the truly international team of George, his Swedish-born training ally Amanda Zetterholm and their tough yet stylish Yorkshireman entrusted with guiding the raiders around the Cheltenham undulations.

Despite forging successful careers on the continent, National Hunt racing’s showpiece event remains the pinnacle for both trainer and jockey, who always make sure to have the hallowed four days in March ringed on their calendars.

The meeting takes extra precedence for local lad George, who although now calling the Chantilly outskirts home, was born a stone’s throw away from Prestbury Park and has grown up surrounded by the Festival success stories of both his father Tom and grandfather John Edwards.

George said: “I was born in Cheltenham Hospital so I was born and bred there and it was not far down the road from where I’ve grown up, so it’s a dream to have two good chances like we’ve got this year.

“Even across the Channel it is the big focus of the year and to go there with some live chances is exciting.

“I don’t really remember dad’s first winner there, Galileo, but I remember very clearly Summerville Boy and we’ve always had horses run well there. My grandfather John Edwards also had plenty of success at the Festival and he always talks about Pearlyman and his wins at Cheltenham.

“I rode a winner at Cheltenham during their hunter chase evening, but I never had much luck at the Festival. I rode in the Kim Muir when I was 16 and now I’m going back with two horses I train, it’s very exciting.”

Similar sentiments apply to Reveley, who is another to descend from a successful racing dynasty, with his grandmother Mary Reveley saddling over 2,000 winners under both codes and his father Keith also enjoying big-race success during his time in the training ranks.

Despite being a three-time champion jockey in his adopted home, he is still to get a first Festival win and now has the chance to serve a reminder of his skills in plate.

“Cheltenham is obviously what everyone is thinking about all season, thinking about what horses they have and what races they are going to run in at the Festival, it’s crazy really,” said Reveley.

“It’s always been high up on my list of ambitions to ride a winner at the Festival and I’ve never really had a good enough opportunity until now.

“I moved to France and may have never got any more opportunities, but it’s funny how things have worked out and now I’ve got the chances thanks to a Swedish and British trainer in France.

“It’s a good position to be in and it’s great to be in the mix again as I went a good few years riding in France without even riding in the UK. Now with Noel and Amanda sending a good few over, I’m enjoying getting back on the UK circuit now and again.

“I have a good few chances, which is something that has never really happened before and I know the horses I’m riding really well. Touch wood, everything can stay in one piece until we get there.”

French success at the Festival may not be as frequent as it was when François Doumen was lifting the Gold Cup with The Fellow in the mid-1990s and also sending over Baracouda to land the World Hurdle in 2002 and 2003, but the cross-Channel challengers can still make their presence felt, with David Cottin’s Easysland downing the great Tiger Roll in the cross-country only five years ago.

George and Reveley are dyed-in-the-wool Brits, but are wholly appreciative of the country that has provided them with the opportunities to thrive on the biggest stage and will now proudly compete under the French tricolour in the Cotswolds.

“The horses are very much trained in France and of course we’re loyal to that,” explained George.

“Il Est Francais is part-owned by his breeder and that arrangement is a massive part of French racing. There are a lot of French-bred favourites throughout the week and we’re proud to be going there under the French flag, even though we’re not French and we’ve also got British and Irish owners involved.”

Reveley concurs with the man who will be giving him the leg-up in the Cotswolds, even though it felt unnatural to drape the French flag over his shoulders when successful at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2023.

“When we won at Kempton someone gave us a French flag and I don’t know why because I’m English, Noel’s English and Amanda is Swedish – but I guess the horse is French-bred!” said the rider, who can also look forward to the likes of Patrick Griffin’s Roi Mage in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and Cottin’s course winner Jet Blue in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

“I guess even though we’re English ourselves we’re going over there proud to represent France.”