“He is better this year” - Josh Guerriero on his Grand National contenders

The shortest-priced British-trained runner set to line up in the 178th Randox Grand National is Jagwar, who is set to be partnered by Mark Walsh in the £1-million Aintree showpiece for the Greenall and Guerriero team.

At a media visit organised by The Jockey Club on Tuesday, co-trainer Josh Guerriero said: “Obviously the biggest race of all (the Randox Grand National) is something you only dream about, so keep dreaming and hopefully it comes true.

“We could never have expected to have two horses like Jagwar and Iroko, especially not so early in our careers, and obviously they've both been Cheltenham Festival winners for us as well, which is incredible.

“They're massive for us and we're very lucky to have them. I dream a little bit now and again of winning the National, but I get nervous every time I do, so I stop myself and am just trying to get through each day.

“Aintree is a local track there's a big connection to it with Ollie’s family. Jagwar and Iroko both come from Oliver's dad, Lord Daresbury's crop of foals. Its's amazing how it's all come together really.

“I won the Fox Hunters at Aintree (as a jockey on Christy Beamish in 2008). Ollie was fourth in the race, and we've actually got a great picture up here of us jumping The Chair upsides.”

Iroko started 13-2 Favourite when a close fourth in the 2025 Randox Grand National. Both he and Jagwar were last seen at the Cheltenham Festival a fortnight ago in the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong. 

Jagwar fared best that day, finishing the half-length runner up to Johnnywho, while Iroko was a slightly disappointing 10th.

Both horses are previous Cheltenham Festival winners with Jagwar landing the 2025 Plate Handicap Chase and Iroko the 2023 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Guerriero also revealed on Tuesday that the plan is for Mark Walsh to retain the partnership after guiding him to a second-placed finish in the Ultima, with Jonjo O’Neill Jr set to partner Iroko once again.

“That was the whole point to get to know him [Jagwar] at Cheltenham so he could ride him in the National. Hopefully he’ll stay on and Jonjo [O’Neill Jr.] will stay on Iroko.”

Guerriero believes Aintree could suit Jagwar better than the undulating nature of Cheltenham and is hopeful that the extra distance will be within his stamina capabilities.

“No reason why he shouldn’t stay further the way he came up the hill. He wasted energy throughout the race [in the Ultima] with his jumping and having to be wide. He struggles with Cheltenham because it’s so tight. He’s huge and he’s got a massive stride. Coming around the bend, up, down, it’s not a very rhythmic track for a big horse like him, he seems to struggle all the time. 

“I do think going to Aintree, a big long straight, is going to help that a lot. I’m hoping he gets into a better rhythm. He can just stay in a straight line and use his big stride. He still is improving but not rapidly like he was last year. He’s won a big pot and I’m sure he could with another one, he just hasn’t had it all go his way this time.”

Last year’s Randox Grand National fourth, Iroko, didn’t enjoy the best preparation for his return to Aintree with a tenth-placed finish in the Ultima Handicap Chase, but was reported to have scoped dirty the following day which explained his unusual underwhelming performance.

“We scoped him three or four days before he ran, after he did a good bit of work, and he was clean. Then he’s just picked something up. He wasn't on a going day because of that. He’s never not put a race in. It's the first time he's ever done that and he scoped dirty for the first time so it all makes sense.

Talking about Iroko’s run in the race last year, Guerriero believes he’ll have learnt plenty from the experience and he’s a more “complete horse” this time.

He said: “Being in a massive field, he looked throughout the race a bit lost, he got shuffled back and his jumping was a little bit iffy. This year he’s come back and he’s travelling strongly, it's like he knows what to do.

“He’s had a wind-op. So there is a reason why he is better this year. If he has improved 5lb, 6lb, 7lb, then he’s going to be right up behind them again, and hopefully with a bit more luck in-running and closer to the pace, softer ground, that might just be the difference between the seven lengths that he was beaten last year.

“All he’s got to do is finish like he did last year, and if he starts from a closer position then he should be there.”

Guerriero also expressed how fortunate he feels to be training two leading hopes for such a famous and prestigious race for owner JP McManus.

“It’s unbelievable really, just to have two horses that good is amazing. The fact they’re both JP’s is unbelievable as well. In some ways it’s good they are JP’s or we may have taken different routes with them.

“I never would have expected to have two horses like Jagwar and Iroko, especially not so early in our careers and they’ve both been Cheltenham Festival winners for us as well which is incredible. They’re massive for us and we’re very lucky to have them.”