Delta Work digs deep to foil Kemboy
Improving chaser just 11-2 to land Gold Cup Mullins rates Faugheen win ‘one of most special’
Delta Work continued his relentless progress up the staying chase ranks with a brave victory over Kemboy in a thrilling finish to yesterday’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
Jack Kennedy was content to keep the Gigginstown House Studowned Delta Work just off the pace until he crept into it turning for home, at the same time as Davy Russell made a similar move on Presenting Percy.
Kemboy, who had always been on the pace, led at the second-last fence but Delta Work and Presenting Percy were poised just behind.
At the last there was little in it; Presenting Percy’s challenge was the first to wilt as gradually Delta Work’s stamina kicked in and he battled on dourly to get the better of Kemboy, eventually winning by 1 ½ lengths. Presenting Percy kept on at the one pace to finish third, 3¼ lengths back.
Delta Work, who has an excellent Cheltenham record, having won the Pertemps Hurdle in 2018 and come second in last year’s RSA Chase, is now as short as 11-2 for the
Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “The last couple of seasons he has improved with races. We missed here last year and went straight to Cheltenham, which might not have been ideal. The one thing we have learned is to put him to sleep and get him popping away. It’s all systems go now for Cheltenham. Our horse is improving and we can dream about a Gold Cup”
Willie Mullins may have been out of luck with his three runners in the Gold Cup but he still won two Grade Ones yesterday.
Asterion Forlonge looked pretty smart when running away from a decent field in the Chanelle Farmer Novice Hurdle, and the evergreen Irish legend Faugheen recorded a battling victory in the Flogas Novice Chase.
Not only were the crowd thrilled by the success but so too was Mullins . “I have had lots of winners, but this was special, I think,” he said. “They said it was special when he won down in Limerick at Christmas, but I wasn’t there.
“This is fantastic here – it is probably one of the most special winners I have ever had.”