Gold Cup quotes aplenty for Delta Work after easy win in Champion Novice Chase

There was little wrong with Delta Work's run at the Cheltenham Festival but it deflated trainer Gordon Elliott. He expected more of Gigginstown House Stud's young star and, belatedly but thrillingly, he got it with a stunning Punchestown performance.

Following two Grade 1 winter victories, Delta Work was sent off 15-8 favourite for the RSA Chase. Although beaten by Topofthegame and Santini after an engrossing three-way battle, his reputation was arguably enhanced.

Thanks to his success in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, the six-year-old's reputation is now justifiably very tall indeed.

Rare are the top-flight races won with the ease that marked Delta Work's triumph. He sauntered clear early in the home straight, Davy Russell barely needing to twitch a muscle to secure a 12-length crushing of Discorama.

A Plus Tard, a wide-margin winner at Cheltenham, took third after dropping away in the closing stages.

"He's a very, very good horse," said Elliott, while Russell said exactly the same, albeit with only one 'very'.

"We were disappointed at Cheltenham," explained Elliott. "He never got a run through the race, but I'd say the softer ground today made the difference. He was in his rhythm the whole way. He's nice, one for the future."

Bobby Bowe, son of leading point-to-point trainer Colm show Gordon Elliott how Davy Russell had won on Delta WorkCredit: Patrick McCann

Delta Work's future must surely now be planned back from the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he was cut to between 10-1 and 14-1 (from as big as 33).

"The more rain that fell was always going to be a big help to him," said Russell. "He fell asleep a bit on me down the back, but then a couple of good jumps got him back into it."

A Plus Tard's trainer Henry de Bromhead was far from despondent in defeat and may now consider focusing the five-year-old's career on races away from right-handed tracks like Punchestown.

"He ran okay, but I think we have to start thinking about the left,-right thing," said de Bromhead. "He does look to be a superior horse going left-handed."

Left-handed or right-handed, Delta Work certainly looks like a horse worth getting excited about.

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