Iroko set to take familiar route back to Aintree

A return to Ascot is likely to be next on Iroko’s pre-Grand National schedule following his pleasing return to action at Haydock on Saturday.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old finished fourth after being sent off favourite for the world’s most famous steeplechase in April and just as he did last season, he kicked off the new campaign by filling the runner-up spot in a graduation chase on Merseyside, this time chasing home the King George-bound The Jukebox Man.

After being narrowly beaten by Trelawne in the same race 12 months ago, Iroko fell on his next start at Ascot before finishing fourth in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham and then second to Grey Dawning in Kelso’s Premier Chase prior to his bid for National glory at Aintree.

Josh Guerriero, who trains Iroko in partnership with Oliver Greenall, is planning a similar programme this term for a horse he believes could be better than ever.

“Bar winning it was a perfect comeback run on Saturday. He got a lovely experience, jumped really well and stayed on really nicely after the last without having a hard race, so we’re very happy,” he said.

“He was very, very tired after the National so I just wanted him to go and have a nice time and enjoy it. He did that, so that’s perfect.

“I think we’ll go to Ascot again, whether we go to Cheltenham again in January, I don’t know, but we’ll probably try to go to Kelso again.

“He ran so well (in the Grand National last season) there’s no need to change a lot and Jonjo (O’Neill junior) seemed to think he felt better on Saturday than he did last year. He’s had his wind done and he just looked a lot more comfortable and straight.

“Last year he carried himself a bit funny all season and Jonjo said he felt a lot better, which is good.”