Iroko makes leap from handicap glory to Grade One test

Cheltenham winner upped in class at Aintree.

Cheltenham Festival hero Iroko tests the water at Grade One level for the first time in the Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Friday.

The five-year-old provided the training team of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero with the biggest success of their fledgling operation to date when carrying the colours of JP McManus to victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle in the Cotswolds last month.

Iroko made it three from three for the season at Cheltenham following back-to-back wins at Wetherby earlier in the campaign and Greenall believes the step up to three miles on Merseyside can help elevate his game to another level.

“He’s the second top-rated horse in the race, so I think he deserves a crack at it,” he said.

“He came out of Cheltenham well and having that extra week between there and Aintree has helped him.

“The softer the ground, the better for him. The flat track is a bit of a concern, but I think the extra trip will be ideal.”

Another Festival winner out to follow up is Albert Bartlett scorer Stay Away Fay. His trainer Paul Nicholls is confident of another bold showing.

“He was so impressive in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, making much of the running and showing a great attitude to see off the opposition in the closing stages,” the champion trainer told Betfair.

“He seems very well and this looks a suitable target. He continues to please at home, has an obvious chance and will make a cracking chaser next season.”

Donald McCain’s Maximilian got the better of Stay Away Fay to lift the River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster in January and connections deliberately skipped Cheltenham to wait for Aintree.

Donald McCain's Maximilian
Donald McCain’s Maximilian (Steven Paston/PA)

McCain said: “We’ve had a nice run at it and he’s fine, no problems.

“He’s a fresh horse and we’ve aimed for this since Doncaster, so we’re looking forward to it.

“He’s not flash and he doesn’t really do anything impressively but he knows how to win, so let’s hope that continues.”

Another horse who sidestepped the Festival is Absolute Notions, who was last seen finishing second to Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Speaking in a stable tour on www.attheraces.com, trainer Gordon Elliott said: “We decided to skip Cheltenham to keep him fresh for Aintree and he’s in great form.

Absolute Notions at Punchestown
Absolute Notions at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA)

“We think the step up in trip is going to suit him. The one thing I’d say is that he wouldn’t want too much rain – he prefers a sounder surface.”

Elliott has a strong hand on day two of the Grand National meeting and will be hoping to get the afternoon off to a flyer with Gerri Colombe in the opening Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old suffered his first defeat in four starts over fences when beaten a short head by The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and Elliott is confident he can go one better.

He said: “He’s an intended runner in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and we’ll welcome every drop of rain.

“He was just a bit unlucky to be beaten at the Cheltenham Festival. I’d say if you ran the race again tomorrow, he’d win it, but it doesn’t work like that unfortunately. Hopefully he can get back to winning ways on Friday.”

Gerri Colombe at Sandown earlier in the season
Gerri Colombe at Sandown earlier in the season (Steven Paston/PA)

Gerri Colombe’s rivals include Complete Unknown, who has his sights raised by Nicholls following a wide-margin handicap win at Kempton.

“He was always going to be a chaser, has taken to fences like a natural this season and comes to Aintree on the back of a 16-length victory at Kempton off a mark of 142,” Nicholls added.

“He is progressing nicely and should be competitive, with Gerri Colombe the one to beat.”

Elliott and Nicholls are also represented in the Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle, Elliott by Found A Fifty and Nicholls by Rubaud and Tahmuras.

Found A Fifty has an obvious form chance after being beaten a head by the high-class Corbetts Cross in a Naas Grade Two on his most recent outing.

Elliott said: “He ran a belter at Naas and has improved since then. I think he’s a very good horse and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

Rubaud won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton last time out, but is the apparent second string behind Tahmuras, who needs to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

“He has won three times over hurdles this season, most recently at Kempton, and has earned this step up to a Grade One race,” said Nicholls.

“Tahmuras’ form has been smart this season until things didn’t go his way at Cheltenham. I’m not sure what happened that day but he seems in very good form at home and it’s encouraging that this track is much like Haydock, where he won so impressively in November.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket contests the same race after a fourth-placed run in the Supreme under Rachael Blackmore, who rides again.

Rachael Blackmore and Inthepocket
Rachael Blackmore and Inthepocket (David Davies/PA)

She told Betfair: “Inthepocket ran very well in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He travelled well for me and he kept on well to finish fourth, just over six lengths behind Marine Nationale.

“This looks like a very competitive race, as you would expect for a Grade One, but none of the first three home in the Supreme are running.

“Inthepocket seems to have come out of Cheltenham well. I think that he is a horse with a big future, he has lots of potential. He travels well and he jumps well and I hope that he can run a big race.”

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