Delta Work heads Gigginstown's five-strong assault on Grade 1 novice chase

1.55 Leopardstown
Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 4yo+ | 3m | RTE2/ATR

Can Delta make short work of rivals?

Delta Work, winner of the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March, puts his unbeaten record over fences on the line in this Grade 1, in which his owners Gigginstown House Stud have five of the seven runners.

The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old landed the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse this month and the form of that race was boosted by the victory of half-length runner-up Le Richebourg in the Racing Post Novice Chase on Wednesday.

Elliott, who won the race with Shattered Love a year ago and with No More Heroes in 2015, said on Friday: "Delta Work is in good form and stepping up to three miles should suit him well. The ground should be okay."

Elliott, who is also represented by Gigginstown's Blow By Blow and the Chris Jones-owned Ben Dundee, added: "Blow By Blow was very disappointing in the Drinmore and we're just hoping he'll leave that run behind him.

Blow By Blow: looking to bounce back from Drinmore disappointmentCredit: Patrick McCann

"Ben Dundee won well at Punchestown but was pulled up at Navan last time. He made a mistake and we thought he'd gone lame, but he was fine afterwards. He seems in very good form."

Will De Bromhead's fine run continue?

Henry de Bromhead has enjoyed a fruitful few days and is represented by the Gigginstown-owned pair Judgement Day and Nick Lost in his bid to land this race for the first time.

Judgement Day has won four chase starts in a rowCredit: Caroline Norris

He said: "Not many novices have done what Judgement Day has done so far this season in winning four on the bounce. He has won over three-miles plus and deserves to take his chance.

"He's in good form, as is Nick Lost. They're going up in grade and we think going back up to three miles will suit Nick Lost. He ran well in a Grade 2 last time."

Can Mortal overcome chasing inexperience?

Completing the Gigginstown quintet is the Joseph O'Brien-trained Mortal, who scored on his debut over fences at Fairyhouse four weeks ago.

O'Brien said: "He did well in beating a more experienced horse in Any Second Now at Fairyhouse. He's been in good form at home and, while this represents a big step up in a competitive race, we're hoping for a good run."

Gigginstown first won this with Last Instalment in 2011 and since then have been successful with Don Poli (2014), No More Heroes (2015) and Shattered Love 12 months ago.

Can Bay shine for second time in a week?

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Moonshine Bay, has sent out two winners of the race – Bostons Angel in 2010 and Our Duke two years ago.

Moonshine Bay got off the mark over fences at the second attempt when scoring over 3m½f at Thurles a week ago.

Harrington said: "He came out of the race well. He's a good jumper, which you need for Leopardstown's fences, and he stays and likes good ground."

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