New buy and Halley give trainer reason for optimism in 2013
Tom George is excited about the prospects for his new French recruit Mail De Bievre.
Last Updated: 23/12/12 3:46pm
George has had success with previous French imports, most notably Nacarat, but Mail De Bievre achieved more at home than the dashing grey had before he crossed the channel.
Mail De Bievre won a Grade Two in his homeland but has only had one run since April 2010 through injury.
"He had a rating in France equivalent of 175 over here before injury struck," said George. Because he has been off for so long that has now dropped to 160 so that's the sort of horse we are talking about.
"I plan to run him in the Aon (Denman) at Newbury, then we'll see what we've got. He's been in for a bit and is certainly one to look forward to."
Another of George's French recruits is Halley, and he is back in work after a spell off the track.
"Halley has had some time off and he's a much better horse in France," said George.
"He won a Grade One at Auteuil but had three runs here and didn't seem the same animal. He was only very young though so we've given him a break and he's really filled out, you wouldn't recognise him. He'll switch between France and England."