Delta Work just leads Kemboy over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Delta Work followed up his win in the Savills Chase over the same course and distance at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting by landing the feature event of the Dublin Racing Festival, the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.
The 5/2 chance was patiently ridden by Jack Kennedy who produced him to challenge Presenting Percy and Kemboy early in the home straight.
The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old son led at the last and stayed on well under pressure on the run-in to score by a length and a half.
The 5/4 favourite Kemboy held every chance in this three-mile event but could make no impression on the winner after the last, while Presenting Percy travelled as well as anything at the penultimate fence but weakened on the run-in to finish a further three and a quarter lengths back in third.
Jett ran a cracker another four and three quarter lengths away in fourth with La Bague Au Roi fifth.
Elliott said, “The last couple of seasons he’s improved with races. We missed here last year and went straight to Cheltenham which might not have been ideal.
“It’s great for Jack who is a young lad only coming back after a few injuries and he has nerves of steel.
“The one thing we have learned about this horse is to put him to sleep and get him popping away. It’s all systems go now for Cheltenham. Our horse is improving the whole time and we can dream about a Gold Cup now.”
Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for successful owners Gigginstown, said “This has been a lucky race for us. This horse needs racing and improves from race to race. He wears a hood but he’s settling better now. He jumped well and Jack gave him a super ride.
“In fairness to Leopardstown they have done a superb job with the ground today. Myself and Gordon walked the track this morning and we were very impressed with the chase track.”
Kennedy said, “He settled lovely and jumped great throughout the race. I thought, maybe like the last day, it might take a while to pick up but when I got after him I ended up getting there too soon. He probably idled a bit up the straight.
“He's improved from the last day and hopefully he can keep going.
“These two races he's won are the races that the Gold Cup horses run in and he's won them so he has to be a contender.
“He was brilliant and never put a foot wrong. He just got in under the last. He's a bit more clever than I was as I was going for a big one but he put down on me.”
Delta Work is now as short as 5/1 (from 8/1) with BoyleSports for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Betfair go 11/2 (from 8/1), while Ladbrokes and Paddy Power make him a 6/1 chance.
Al Boum Photo is the general 4/1 favourite.
(GC & AM)
