Iroko team favouring Colin Parker tilt

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s stable star Iroko is set to sidestep the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday in favour of an appearance at Carlisle the following afternoon.

Placed at Grade One level over hurdles a couple of seasons ago, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old made an impressive start to his chasing career last November before suffering a setback that was initially expected to rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

However, he did return in the spring, finishing fifth in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before bettering that effort by finishing second at Aintree.

Iroko is poised to make his comeback this weekend and the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase, rather than Saturday’s West Yorkshire feature, appears the favoured option.

“We’re hoping to go to Carlisle,” said Greenall.

“He’s in good form. He’s not flashy at home so it’s always hard to tell, but he’s done plenty of work and has taken it well.

“He’ll improve for a run. There’s another intermediate chase I think at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, so if all went well he could go there.”