Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work dies at the age of 12

Last year's Grand National runner-up Delta Work, one of Gordon Elliott's finest stable stalwarts over the last decade, has died at the age of 12 following a bout of colic. 

A three-time Cheltenham Festival winner during a stellar career, Delta Work won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2022, famously beating the legendary Tiger Roll after a thrilling tussle, and he won it again the following year, too. He also won the Pertemps Final in 2018. 

Before switching his attention to the cross-country scene, Delta Work won five Grade 1s over fences and was successful in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown during the best season, the 2019-2020 campaign. He was fifth to Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup afterwards. 

Delta Work was last seen finishing fourth in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month and he was being geared up for another crack at the Cross Country Chase at next month's festival, for which he was generally a 7-1 shot. 

Delta Work (blue cap) famously denied stablemate Tiger Roll in the 2022 Glenfarclas Chase Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Gordon Elliott said: "Sadly Delta Work died this morning as a result of colic. After showing signs of colic he was brought to Fethard Equine Hospital and was operated on but sadly there was nothing that could be done for him. 

"Everyone here is gutted by this news. He was such a huge favourite of the yard and he gave us so many memorable days over so many seasons. As a five-time Grade 1 winner and a triple Cheltenham Festival winner he was everything you could hope for in a racehorse."

The trainer added: "It was an honour and privilege to train him for Michael and Anita O’Leary and we will be lucky to come across a horse of such class, versatility and longevity again."

Delta Work won 12 of his 40 career outings and was placed on 12 other occasions. He won over €1 million in prize-money and was rated 171 during his peak in 2020. 

Read this next:

Drama and boos as Tiger Roll denied dream end to career by stablemate Delta Work 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.