Gordon Elliott not giving up on Gold Cup dream with Savills contender Delta Work

Gordon Elliott has warned against writing off Delta Work for the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Delta Work, a three-time Grade 1-winning novice chaser last season, was described by Elliott at the beginning of the campaign as a potential Gold Cup contender, and the trainer revealed he has not lost faith in the Gigginstown-owned chaser despite an inauspicious start to the season at Down Royal.

“He's not one to write off just yet,” said Elliott of Delta Work, who was well beaten behind Road To Respect on his return in last month's Ladbrokes Champion Chase and is now as big as 25-1 for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Watch: Delta Work makes light work of the opposition at Punchestown

An 11-2 shot for the Savills Chase, Delta Work will be put through his paces on Monday morning with Elliott confident of an improved effort in the Leopardstown showpiece.

Elliott added: “He'll work in the morning and we'll see where we go from there, but we'd be hoping he can run well in the Savills Chase. He seems to be in good form and I'd be hoping he can improve from his reappearance at Down Royal.”

Gordon Elliott: set for a typically busy Christmas periodCredit: Patrick McCann

Elliott has over 200 different entries for horses over the busy Christmas period and few more important than Samcro, who will run at Limerick in the Grade 1 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase, a race the trainer won 12 months ago with Hardline and in 2017 with Dounikos.

Elliott said: "Samcro definitely goes to Limerick. He's in good form and worked well this [Sunday] morning so we couldn't be happier with him. It looks a very good race but we haven't lost faith in him so hopefully he can run well.”

Elliott added: “With Samcro going to Limerick, that will leave Battleoverdoyen to run in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown. He's a big three-mile chaser and the race should suit him well.

“Champagne Classic is also in the mix but we might keep him for the new year instead – there's a Grade 3 Novice Chase at Punchestown in early January [12] that we could run him in. That's not definite, though.”

Coeur Sublime: could enhance his Champion Hurdle claimsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On the remainder of his Grade 1 festive fancies, Elliott said: "Coeur Sublime is another who works in the morning and the plan is to go for the Matheson Hurdle with him.

“We're very happy with him but he's going to have to improve again from Down Royal if he's to win at Leopardstown.”

He added: “We have lots of horses with chances so hopefully we get a bit of luck.

"Apple’s Jade is definitely improving at home so we'll see how she gets on in the Frank Ward Memorial Hurdle.

“Hardline goes for the 2m1f chase [Paddy's Rewards Club "Loyalty's Dead, Live For Rewards" Chase] at Leopardstown and Abacadabras will run in the two-mile novice hurdle [Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle] there as well.”

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