Last year’s Grand National once again went the way of the Irish. Willie Mullins trained the first three home, with Nick Rockett landing the race at 33/1, while the British-trained runners were left chasing minor honours.
Iroko, sent off the 13/2 favourite in the colours of JP McManus, was the standout British runner, finishing fourth and beaten seven and a half lengths.
For trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, based in Cheshire, that result brought mixed feelings. It showed he belonged at the level, but also hinted that more might have been possible.
Twelve months on, he returns to Aintree at 18/1, with greater experience, a more focused preparation, and the benefit of a wind operation that connections believe has helped him progress further.
He comes into the race as one of the more intriguing runners in the field, with a strong case to be made.
A Profile That Suits Aintree
Iroko has not followed a typical route to the Grand National.
Bred in France, he was brought to Cheshire and developed steadily by Greenall and Guerriero. His early success came over hurdles, with wins at Wetherby and Cheltenham, before switching to fences.
Over the larger obstacles, he won a novice chase at Warwick and then stepped up to finish second in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April 2024.
When he returned for the 2025 Grand National as favourite in a field of 34, he jumped with assurance, worked his way into the race, and finished fourth. He did suffer slight interference at the second Valentines, which may have cost him some momentum.
Speaking recently, Guerriero pointed to the progress made since that run:
“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.”
This Season’s Form
Iroko’s current campaign has had both positives and setbacks.
He returned with a win at Ascot in December, beating two rivals comfortably by four and three-quarter lengths.
His next run came at Cheltenham in March, where he finished tenth in the Ultima Handicap Chase. On the surface, that looks disappointing, but there is a clear explanation.
He was found to have scoped dirty the following day, meaning he ran with a respiratory issue that would have affected his performance. Connections were quick to point this out.
Guerriero explained:
“He scoped dirty the day after. We scoped him three or four days before he ran, after he did a good bit of work, and he was clean. He's been a much more complete horse since the National last year. This year he's come back and he's travelling strongly, it's like he knows what to do.”
With that in mind, the Cheltenham run can be viewed in isolation rather than as a sign of declining form.
Does He Match the Typical Winner?
Iroko’s profile fits many of the key trends associated with recent Grand National winners.
At eight years old, he sits in the ideal age range that has produced the majority of winners.
He is set to carry 11st 3lb from an official rating of 156, placing him comfortably within the range that has produced most winners in the last two decades.
His chase record stands at two wins from eleven starts, which is lower than the usual profile, but his Racing Post Rating of 161 suggests his ability is higher than that record alone might indicate.
In terms of recent form, the tenth at Cheltenham is the main concern, but the confirmed respiratory issue offers a clear reason to set that run aside. His Ascot win before that showed him in good form.
He also brings valuable experience of the race itself, having already finished fourth in the 2025 Grand National as favourite. He has proven he can handle the fences, the distance, and the demands of a large field.
His odds of 12/1 place him firmly within the range that has produced a high percentage of recent winners.
The Verdict
The argument for Iroko becomes stronger if you ignore the Cheltenham run and focus on the wider picture.
He is an eight-year-old owned by McManus, with proven form at Aintree, a solid performance in last year’s National, and a preparation aimed specifically at this race. The wind operation is an added factor that could bring further improvement.
Greenall and Guerriero are a yard on the rise, though the continued strength of Irish-trained runners in this race cannot be overlooked.
Even so, Iroko stands out as one of the leading British contenders, and his odds reflect a balance between respect and caution.
For those who supported him last year, there is a strong case for returning to him in 2026, with more experience, better preparation, and fewer unknowns this time around.
