Iroko camp targeting Betfair Chase return

Iroko is set to kick off his campaign in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, with connections keen to discover whether the Cheltenham Gold Cup could be a realistic target for the JP McManus-owned gelding this term.

The eight-year-old has performed with huge credit in the Randox Grand National in each of past two seasons, placing fourth to Nick Rockett in 2025 before filling the runner-up spot behind dual Aintree hero I Am Maximus in April this year.

With Iroko now on a career-high mark of 160, joint-trainer Josh Guerriero – who shares the licences with Oliver Greenall – admitted the days of protecting his rating with the world’s most famous steeplechase in mind have passed.

“Iroko is great, looks amazing and and we are looking at hopefully going to the Betfair Chase with him,” said Guerriero. “It has always been all about Aintree, but we are going to try and see if he can cut it with the big boys in the top level and see how that goes.

“We will make a plan from there (Haydock) whether we go down the Gold Cup route, if he did show form at that level.

“The last two years we have targeted the National and obviously he has run absolute blinders in it, but he is on a mark now where he can can actually go and run in those big races and hopefully not be affected too much.

“We were always trying to protect his mark in the past, but he is up to a mark now where we may as well run in those races. We are thinking Gold Cup, Ireland that sort of thing. We would probably still end up in the National, but we are going to try to win some big prizes along the way.”

Iroko started his last campaign on Betfair Chase day, finishing a promising second behind subsequent King George winner The Jukebox Man in a graduation chase.