Grand National horses from England - North West

Iroko ran a fine race in last year’s Grand National when finishing seven-and-a-half lengths fourth to Nick Rockett when sent off the 13/2 favourite and in doing so was the only British horse to finish in the top nine places. 

Jonjo O’Neill jnr, who rode Iroko in the National, was hard at work from a long way out but his partner was willing, staying on for pressure after coming from quite a long way back. Iroko made a couple of bad mistakes before the turn for home which will not have helped his cause.

The eight-year-old gelding is a previous winner at the Cheltenham Festival, winning the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle in 2023, but was sent straight over fences the following season and, perhaps surprisingly, has won only twice in ten attempts at the bigger obstacles. Iroko’s shrewd trainers, Oliver Greenall and Josh Gueriero, have been campaigning this horse with one eye on Aintree right from the start of his chasing career at the behest of owner JP McManus who has apparently always thought this horse was made for the Grand National.

Iroko has started this season with a run in the same Graduation Chase at Haydock that he ran in first-time up last season, finishing second on both occasions. He then ran in another Graduation Chase at Ascot where he regained the winning thread seeing off Firefox and James Du Berlais for a cosy victory.

It would appear all roads lead back to Aintree for Iroko but, in recent years, horses heading back to the Grand National after a defeat do not have a good record and this son of Cokoriko is likely to have significantly more weight to carry.

Iroko has had a wind operation since last season so connections will be hoping that will help the gelding find the improvement he seems to need to find to be competitive again in April.

Jagwar had a superb first season over fences last year winning four races from five attempts, including the Novices Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 

That victory at Cheltenham came from a mark of 139 and the seven-year-old gelding will carry thirteen pounds more should he line up in the Grand National. This season he has run twice so far in two valuable Cheltenham middle-distance handicaps and has only been narrowly beaten in both. 

Jagwar’s supporters for the Grand National are making a big leap of faith regarding his stamina for the four-and-a-quarter mile test at Aintree as the horse has yet to run further than two miles and five furlongs. Connections are aiming the JP McManus horse first at this year’s Cheltenham Festival with the three-mile Ultima Chase as the target before a possible tilt at the Grand National. With stamina still under question, Jagwar fans would probably best to wait until after Cheltenham before placing any Grand National bets.