‘Exciting’ Cheltenham Festival favourite pulled from race by billionaire owner

3 weeks ago 28

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL favourite Iroko has left ante-post punters heartbroken after being pulled from Ultima.

A general 7-1 favourite for the staying handicap on day one, Iroko has been redirected by trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Iroko has his sights set on the Grand National[/caption]

Instead, he’ll bolster billionaire owner JP McManus’s squad for the Grand National – the race he won last year with I Am Maximus.

Although those who backed him for the Ultima will be cursing their luck, those on at fancy prices for the now 14-1 shot for the Grand National will be rejoicing.

Iroko has previous with the Cheltenham Festival, winning the 2023 Martin Pipe over hurdles, flashing home between horses.

But his trainers have always had one eye on the Grand National with their budding stayer, who has lashed home over 2m4f this season.

And they’ll be hoping to be beaming when the weights come out, with his current mark of 152 looked pretty generous.

Greenall told Racing Post: “I’ve not experienced this before as he’s our first Grand National entry but I’d expect to get the weight for the rating he’s on as I can’t see why they’d think he’s going to be a better horse over the National fences.

“The National has been the plan all season and he has a similar profile to horses who have won it in the past. The only thing we’re worried about is his age and level of experience.”

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We’ll see Iroko once more, either in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton on February 22 or the Premier Chase on March 1.

With the weights fixed once they come out, should be win either race, he’ll remain on the same mark for the Grand National.

Iroko is the second big Festival favourite to be pulled out in less than 24 hours.

Sir Gino, odds-on for the Arkle, was pulled out by Nicky Henderson after an infection forced the superstar into hospital.

It was another injury nightmare for Henderson, who had troubles with the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Constitution Hill before big dates at Cheltenham.