A HUGE Cheltenham favourite is set to skip the Festival in favour of Aintree.
Iroko is 10-1 for the Ultima but owner JP McManus is favouring a tilt at the Grand National.
The horse’s most recent run at Cheltenham on Trials Day was the subject of a stewards’ enquiry.
Jonjo O’Neill Jr was deemed to have given the horse a hands and heels ride to the line en route to finishing fourth in a handicap chase.
Iroko was identified as a Grand National type at the start of the season.
And now joint-trainer Josh Guerriero says the three-week gap between Cheltenham and Aintree may mean he misses it altogether.
Of Iroko’s Festival Trials day performance, he said: “It was perfect really in a lot of ways.
“He would have learned a hell of a lot, obviously it was a bit of a nightmare at Ascot and to go to the Grand National you want to get some good experience – and he did.
“He was right in amongst it and jumped well under pressure.
“He was a bit flat out, as obviously the trip was a bit short for him, but we’re just trying to teach him plenty.
“If there was four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree, we’d love to (run at the Festival).
“He’s favourite for the Ultima I see now and I think he’d go well in that, but with it only being three weeks between the two, I think we’ll probably run before.
“We might go to the Ladbrokes Trophy (at Kempton on February 22) or something like that.
“Once he’s moved up to a stamina trip, you’ll see the best of him hopefully.
“AP (McCoy) said he might not go for the National this year and we’ll just have to see what happens, but wherever he goes, he’ll go well.”
Iroko is a general 16-1 shot for the Randox Grand National on April 5, behind McManus’ other runner and current 12-1 fav I Am Maximus.