Ultima Handicap Chase favourite
is not certain to line up at the Cheltenham Festival as connections plot their way towards a likely tilt at the Grand National.
The JP McManus-owned gelding has had the Aintree spectacular as his primary aim from the start of the season and having fallen on his previous outing at Ascot, he caught the eye when making late gains to finish fourth in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Bookmakers make Iroko the clear market leader for the Ultima at the Festival in March, but joint-trainer Josh Guerriero has revealed he could instead run at Kempton next month en route to Aintree.
Of his Festival Trials day performance, he said: “It was perfect really in a lot of ways. He would have learned a hell of a lot, obviously it was a bit of a nightmare at Ascot and to go to the Grand National you want to get some good experience – and he did. He was right in amongst it and jumped well under pressure.
“He was a bit flat out, as obviously the trip was a bit short for him, but we’re just trying to teach him plenty.
“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 a general 16-1 shot for the Randox Grand National on April 5.