Iroko faces three formidable rivals from Ireland's top stables in intriguing graduation chase

The raiding party from Ireland has a strong numerical advantage in the £50,000 graduation chase but Iroko is still the one to beat for the home team.

Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the six-year-old put in a strong staying performance when landing the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and made a sparkling debut over fences at Warwick later that year, but a setback meant he wasn't seen again until the 2024 festival, where he finished a respectable fifth in the Turners Novices' Chase.

He came forward sufficiently from that run to chase home Inothewayurthinkin at Aintree, where he finished in front of another smart chaser in Heart Wood. On his seasonal reappearance at Haydock, he could not have shaped much better without winning given he got within half a length of Trelawne despite being ridden much more conservatively than that rival off a slow pace.

That was a run full of promise and Greenall is looking forward to getting further experience into their stable star.

He said: "We want to get his jumping sharpened up and give him more experience, so this looks a good opportunity. He's the most inexperienced in the field, so he needs to get going over fences, and we think this stiff track will play to his strengths."

Iroko is the one to beat but faces stiff competition from Ireland's triumvirate of top trainers in Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead.

James Du Berlais brings strong handicap form to the table, having run a cracker for Mullins in the Topham Handicap Chase last season when just reeled in late on.

He will be partnered by Daryl Jacob, who said: "I'm looking forward to him because I rode him an awful lot last season until Paul Townend took over at Aintree and Punchestown. He's a wonderful horse and I love riding him.

"I'm not sure what we'll do tactically with the four runners – any one of them could win it."

The Elliott-trained Fil Dor had a schooling session at Thurles last month in a two-runner race but seemed to be rediscovering his mojo when a good second to Saint Sam at Clonmel the time before.

However, it may pay to side with De Bromhead's Jungle Boogie for value purposes. Despite being a ten-year-old, he has had just six starts and ran quite well in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup considering how keen he was. The classy sort had put in a useful performance at Tramore the time before after more than a year on the sidelines and he goes well fresh, while this trip should help him settle better.

Saturday previews:

2.05 Haydock: 'He goes there with a massive chance' - which trainer expects a big run in the competitive Tommy Whittle Chase? 

2.25 Ascot: 'He's going to take an awful lot of beating' - Long Walk Hurdle quotes and insight 

3.00 Ascot: Can huge Coral Gold Cup eyecatcher Victtorino continue Venetia Williams' run of big Saturday winners? 

3.35 Ascot: 'It's a huge pot to play for and he's got his ideal conditions' - trainers on their Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle contenders 

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