Delta Work

28th-Dec-2019

I am retaining faith in Delta Work. You have to forgive him his run at Down Royal, but it appears that he is just not at his best on his seasonal debut.

He was beaten on his seasonal debut in 2017, and he only just scraped home at Down Royal on his seasonal debut last year, before bouncing out of that and beating Le Richebourg in the Drinmore Chase. As well as that, he reportedly came home lame from Down Royal. You can put a line through it.

He will have to be much better today, but there is every chance that he can be. All the reasons for backing him for the Gold Cup are still valid. He was a top class novice last season, he won the Drinmore and the Neville Hotels Chase, and he might have won the RSA Chase had the ball hopped a little more favourably for him through the race.

His Cheltenham Festival form was one of the factors for backing him for the Gold Cup – Pertemps Final winner, RSA Chase placed – but he also has good form at Leopardstown. He won the Neville Hotels Chase at this meeting last year, and he finished a close-up fourth in the William Fry Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2018.

This is a great race. Kemboy obviously sets a very high standard, a 177-rated horse, the highest-rated chaser in training, and he won this race last year. There is just a chance that he will come on for today’s run. He could be vulnerable.

Presenting Percy ran a big race in the John Durkan Chase last time, and Road To Respect looked very good at Down Royal and won this race in 2018, and Monalee is reportedly in tremendous form. It is a fascinating race, but Delta Work is the bet.

DELTA WORK WON (ADV 6/1, SP 11/2)

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