Delta Work cut for Cheltenham after Irish Gold Cup victory

Delta Work added the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup to his victory in the Savills Chase when getting the better of Kemboy and Presenting Percy in a tight finish.

Trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, Delta Work was smuggled into the race by jockey Jack Kennedy and was going the best of the big three coming to the final fence.

The seven-year-old was not the neatest over the last, but had more than enough to repel the rallying Kemboy, while Presenting Percy was unable to keep pace with his rivals in the battle to the line and took third.

Considering how the race was shaping up approaching the penultimate fence, Delta Work ended up comprehensively beating his rivals and heads to next month’s Cheltenham Festival with a big chance of landing the Magners Gold Cup.

Kemboy, Presenting Percy and Delta Work cleared the second-last fence stylishly and looked set for a three-way battle to determine who would take the prize. However, rounding the bend for home it was clear Kennedy was the most content of the three riders and produced Delta Work from behind his opponents to lead at the last.

Delta Work and Kemboy, who like in the Savills Chase was not always the most fluent when jumping, skipped away from Presenting Percy, but the former was always in command, pricking his ears as he crossed the line.

Kennedy believed he got to the front too soon on Delta Work, and said: "I got there going to the last, missed the last and he wasn’t doing a whole lot up the straight. He’s improved since the last day and hopefully he can keep going in that direction. He’s a very good horse."

Delta Work was cut to between 4-1 and 11-2 (from 8) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Kemboy was eased to 7-1 (from 6).

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: "It's a great race to win. There was plenty of pressure coming into this week and we've hit the crossbar plenty, but that's our third winner and to the win the Irish Gold Cup is brilliant.

"We knew for the last few seasons he's improved for a run, and it's all systems go for the [Cheltenham] Gold Cup now."

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