James Fanshawe is to train Champion Hurdle runner-up Hors La Loi III this jumps season, it emerged today.
The five-year-old has been transferred from Francois Doumen`s yard in France by owner Paul Green.
Fanshawe is the third trainer to have had the gelding in his care following Doumen and Martin Pipe.
The Newmarket trainer said today: 'He arrived last week and he is in good shape. He`s had a holiday in Jersey.
'I`m absolutely thrilled to be training him this season.
'The first obvious race for him could be the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham at the beginning of December but he only arrived last week so we are going to feel our way with him.'
Hors La Loi III began his career with Doumen before being bought by Green and sent to Pipe, for whom he won the Supreme Novices` Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1999.
He returned to Doumen`s yard last season, winning the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and finishing four lengths second to Istabraq in this year`s Champion Hurdle at the Festival.
Fanshawe is better known for his Flat string but has tasted big-race success over jumps, training Royal Gait to win the Champion Hurdle in 1992.
