Owned by the leading owner in the history of the Grand National, John McManus, and trained, jointly, by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, Iroko has come closer than most to his own taste of glory in the Aintree marathon, having finished fourth, as second-favourite, in 2025 and second in 2026. Still only an eight-year-old, Iroko was, in fact, installed as favourite for the 2026 Grand National when the weights were published, but drifted markedly in the betting after a disappointing run in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, after which he scoped dirty. Unperturbed, Guerriero told the ‘Racing Post’ that Iroko had “been a much more complete horse” since his previous attempt in the National, but he was, nonetheless, returned at a generous-looking 18/1.
Interestingly, Iroko has yet to win at a distance beyond two miles and five furlongs, over hurdles or fences but, granted that he was staying on at the finish in both attempts in the Grand National, stamina appears to be his strong suit. On British soil, he has won on going ranging from ‘good’ to ‘soft’ and he was placed on ‘very soft’ over hurdles in his native France, so underfoot conditions at Aintree should be no cause for concern, regardless of the weather on Merseyside in the spring of 2027.
In terms of handicapping, Iroko has been raised 3lb for his latest exploits in the Grand National, which means, as it stands, he would be 2lb better off for the two-and-a-half lengths he was beaten by the 2026 winner, and current ante-post favourite, I Am Maximus, in the 2027 renewal. Of course, the Steeplechase Team Leader at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will have the final say when the Grand National weights are published in mid-February but, at 16/1 in the early ante-post lists, Iroko looks a live contender.