Iroko will get his day in the spotlight, insists Guerriero

“We’ll come back and win it next year” – that was the message from Josh Guerriero after watching Iroko finish placed in the Randox Grand National for the second successive year.

Guerriero, who trains in partnership with Oliver Greenall in Cheshire, was understandably frustrated in the immediate aftermath having come so close yet again with JP McManus’ eight-year-old.

However, when taking stock, he was very proud of his charge, who bettered last year’s fourth place by beating all bar the two-and-a-half-length winner I Am Maximus who became the first horse since Red Rum to reclaim the National.

Guerriero said: “All credit to I Am Maximus, we probably finished the same distance behind him last year. He was just a better horse on the day.

“Iroko will be back, I Am Maximus is an older horse than us, we’re only eight and we still think he can win it one day.

“He scoped dirty after Cheltenham and after we worked him hard last week and he scoped clear, we were pretty confident he’d run a big race. He’s done everything right.

“He jumped amazing, he was just beaten by a horse who is the first since Red Rum to reclaim it, he’s an amazing horse.

“We couldn’t be anything but happy. I was trying not to get excited, turning in I started to, but I Am Maximus was just in front of us and that is how it stayed.

“We’ll come back and win in next year, he’ll have even more experience and he didn’t have the greatest prep this time with what happened at Cheltenham. We’ll win it soon.”

In third was Joseph O’Brien’s Jordans who was over five lengths clear jumping the second-last but those early exertions took their toll.

O’Brien will have to wait to add the National to his King George, Melbourne Cup and countless other big races on his CV.

He said: “I was very worried that he got to the front as easy as he did when he did, because it was a long way from home.

“I was very proud of his run. He nearly got brought down so he lost his position.

“It’s a big thrill to run well in the Grand National, it’s frustrating to get so close, but I’m proud of his run.”

Ben Jones was the man on board and said: “I had a great spin. I nearly got brought down early on, but it probably happened at the right time of the race as I took my time and let him warm up.

“When he jumped the last down the far side he just lit up and took me to the front. He jumped unbelievably.

“The loose horses probably didn’t help me coming around the elbow, but he’s run a blinder.

“I wasn’t trying to think about winning and then when we jumped the last I was thinking at least he’d run well, but then when I saw Paul (Townend) coming I thought ‘no way’. But I’m sure he’ll be back next year. He was magical.”

In fourth was Jonjo and A J O’Neill’s Cheltenham Festival winner Johnnywho

Jonjo O’Neill said: “He’s run an absolute blinder, he had a cracking spin but there were just a couple faster on the day.

“What a great day for JP, first, second and fourth – but we had the wrong one!

“Hopefully he’ll be back next year, he’s young enough, but a lot of things need to go right before then. He took to it well and enjoyed it.

“Everything went right, we’ve no excuses but we just didn’t win.”

Richie McLernon was overjoyed at his ride and said: “It was a superb spin, everything went right. I was very happy all the way and he’s run brilliant.

“He stayed all the way to the line and I couldn’t ask for anything more from him.” Panic Attack had been well backed but on a day when trainer Dan Skelton had four winners, she fell at the third and the wait for another mare to win the race goes on.

Skelton said: “It’s just one of those things. She got bumped at the first, was nearly brought down at the second and probably panicked a bit at the third and didn’t even get her landing gear out, she went down on her knees.

“She went straight into a collection area afterwards so she’s only done six furlongs exercise today. She’s OK, Harry’s OK and it’s the Grand National, sometimes that happens.

“There was a lot going on out there and it was a bit like an old-fashioned National. Thankfully everyone appears to be all right and we can celebrate a regaining winner in I Am Maximus. Doing that off that mark, for the purist, we can appreciate what he has achieved and for those that don’t, it’s something phenomenal.

“I’m sure we’ll celebrate that as a sport and all credit to his team for getting him to reclaim his title.”