Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero will bypass Kelso‘s Premier Chase this Saturday in favour of Cheltenham. Their Grand National favourite will now warm-up for Aintree at Prestbury Park, where confidence in Golden Ace is growing.
Find out more about the racing news today in our Friday round-up.
Big race stars set for Cheltenham Festival
Iroko was not declared for Kelso’s Listed Premier Chase on Saturday. His trainers, Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, confirmed their intentions to run at the Cheltenham Festival instead. The JP McManus-owned horse is the current favourite for the Grand National, in which he was fourth in 2025. In aiming to go three better this year, he will run in the Ultima Handicap Chase, the main handicap on day one of the meeting. Just four will contest the Premier Chase, with Protektorat headlining the field. (The Sun)
Confidence is beginning to grow in defending Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace’s Cheltenham bid. Jeremy Scott’s mare won the race in extraordinary circumstances in 2025. However, with a number of key rivals now skipping the race, including Constitution Hill, Golden Ace “is in with a better shout than last year,” according to her trainer. Yesterday, she underwent a racecourse gallop at Wincanton as preparation for the big meeting. (Racing Post)
Rivalry and safety measures at Cheltenham forefront
An opinion column in the Irish Times highlighted the importance of the Anglo-Irish rivalry at the Cheltenham Festival. As such, Brian O’Connor is glad that the sense of rivalry is returning in the Prestbury Cup. That is the trophy awarded to either Britain or Ireland depending on which country’s trainers sent out more winners. The visiting Irish party dominated the cup in recent seasons, but O’Connor senses the “increased bullishness” in the home team, which is “welcome”. (Irish Times)
Cheltenham borough council has announced plans to make the town a safer place to venture to during the Festival. Titled a “war on wee” the plans outlined attempts to combat anti-social behaviour from patrons throughout the week. There will be a greater police presence, as well as that from course officials within the town. Requests for a greater volume of temporary toilets have been made as well. (Gloucestershire Live)
Ascot announces Shergar Cup changes
The Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot will be run as a World Pool meeting for the first time in 2026. Every August, the Berskhire venue hosts its annual jockeys competition, with riders from around the world taking part. As a World Pool event, it will attract greater communal pool betting attention. Similarly, the Hong Kong Jockey Club replaces the Asia team at the event. Their captain will be Vincent Ho, one of the leading riders in the city state. (Ascot)