A HUGE Cheltenham favourite is set to skip the Festival entirely – in favour of Aintree.
The JP McManus-owned Iroko was the subject of a stewards’ enquiry following his fourth-place finish in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at the Gloucestershire track last weekend.
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He travelled and jumped well in the whole and was given a hands and heels ride up the hill to end up five lengths behind winner Moon D’Orange.
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Iroko’s trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero stated at the start of the season that the Grand National would be his aim.
They will look to give McManus a second straight win in the race after I Am Maximus won it last year.
But with there being just three weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree this year, Guerriero feels the gap is too short to do both.
Iroko is still the 10-1 clear favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase – won by Corach Rambler before he doubled up in the National in 2023 – on day one of the Festival.
Yet his trainer reckons it’s unlikely he goes.
He said: “If there was four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree, we’d love to (run at the Festival).
“He’s favourite for the Ultima I see now and I think he’d go well in that, but with it only being three weeks between the two, I think we’ll probably run before.
“We might go to the Ladbrokes Trophy (at Kempton on February 22) or something like that.
“Once he’s moved up to a stamina trip, you’ll see the best of him hopefully.
“AP (McCoy) said he might not go for the National this year and we’ll just have to see what happens, but wherever he goes, he’ll go well.”
Iroko is currently rated 152 and his mark has stayed the same this year after finishes of 2-F-4.
I Am Maximus is the current Grand National favourite at a best-price 12-1 while Iroko is a best-price 16s.
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