Iroko, who has emerged as the favorite for the Grand National, will not run in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso but instead will compete at the Cheltenham Festival, a shift initiated by owner JP McManus. The eight-year-old horse, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, is currently a 7-1 favorite for the prestigious Aintree steeplechase, which takes place in April. This decision is part of a carefully planned campaign aimed at maximizing Iroko's potential for the Grand National, where he finished fourth in the previous year.

In his preparations leading up to this moment, Iroko has performed well. He had a noteworthy runner-up finish against Gold Cup contender The Jukebox Man at Haydock, which was followed by a significant victory at the Howden Graduation Chase at Ascot in December. These results have contributed to the anticipation surrounding his performance at Cheltenham, where it is presumed he will run in the Ultima, although the final confirmation is yet to be made by his team.

The decision to switch Iroko's race schedule demonstrates the strategic approach taken by his connections in navigating the racing calendar, balancing the importance of warm-up races with the highly coveted Grand National. The focus on Cheltenham signifies the high stakes and competitive spirit associated with these major events, contributing further to the excitement and expectations leading up to Aintree.