Josh Guerriero kept it brief at Aintree on Saturday evening. "We'll come back and win it next year." That sentence — delivered immediately after his horse had just finished second in the Grand National — tells you everything about the camp's reading of the race and their confidence in what Iroko showed.
Iroko was fourth in last year's National. He was second on Saturday, two and a half lengths behind I Am Maximus, having run on strongly in the final furlongs under Jonjo O'Neill Jr. He carried 11lb less weight than last year. His trainer believes the improvement the weight reduction produced was real and sustainable. He has now finished fourth and second in consecutive Grand Nationals, completing the course both times with his jumping intact.
The Race Itself
The description of Iroko's run from the race report is instructive. Midfield for most of the race, not fluent at a couple of fences in the middle stages, then headway approaching the last, fifth approaching the Elbow, stayed on strongly in the final 110 yards to take second in the final strides. That is a horse finishing at his strongest — a staying profile that typically improves rather than deteriorates with age when managed carefully.
He was not gifted second. He earned it by running on when others found their limitations. The horses that fell or unseated early — Panic Attack, Grangeclare West — would not necessarily have been ahead of him at the finish even had they stood up. Iroko's position at the Elbow reflected merit rather than fortune.
2027 Grand National Prospects
Iroko will be nine for the 2027 Grand National — still within the optimal age range for the race. He has two consecutive completions of the course. He has progressive form over the National trip, improving from fourth to second in two consecutive attempts. His trainer has publicly committed to returning. If the handicapper's response to Saturday's second place is modest, he will line up next year with strong claims.
Horse Racing Oracle AI will flag Iroko as a key ante-post candidate for 2027 as soon as the weights are published. Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com
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