The big race at Leopardstown on Sunday is the 3m Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup (15:30) and Delta Work is taken to follow-up on his course and distance success at Christmas.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, who is still seeking a first winner in this valuable Dublin Racing Festival contest, this seven-year-old is the youngest of nine runners in this year’s renewal.
Delta Work has won five of his seven starts over fences and progressed in the first three of those to land a Grade 1 – also over course and distance – at the 2018 Christmas Festival.
He ran out an eight-length winner and then went straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Delta Work lost little in defeat there when squeezed out of contention jumping the last in the RSA Chase, before staying on to be a 2 1/4 lengths third to Topofthegame.
The runner-up, Santini, has come out and won both his starts this season to advertise the form.
Punchestown and Savills Chase successes press his claims
Delta Work then resumed winning ways and rounded off the campaign with another Grade 1 success at the Punchestown Festival.
He bolted up by 12 lengths and had A Plus Tard, who has since scored at the highest level after dropping back in trip, beaten a further two lengths behind in third.
Delta Work needed his reappearance outing when a below par fourth to Road To Respect in the Down Royal Champion Chase in November.
Elliott assured punters that the Gigginstown House Stud owned son of Network would come on for that.
He was vindicated when Delta Work made it two out of two over course and distance in the Savills Chase last month when staying on strongly to lead close home.
As he touched off the consistent Monalee by a head, and had five who re-oppose here in-behind him, he has to be fancied on that basis.
Delta Work can thus enhance his fine Leopardstown record over fences at odds of 2/1 with Betfred for the Irish Gold Cup.
Kemboy still respected because of Mullins’ race record
Nobody has won the Irish Gold Cup more times than Willie Mullins.
He has saddled six different horses to land the spoils a total of 10 times and launches a three-pronged attack on this year’s renewal.
Despite the presence of 2019 winner Bellshill, it’s Kemboy that looks the pick of the Closutton trio.
This eight-year-old had a fine second season over fences last term when winning four of his five starts – including three Grade 1s.
Kemboy landed the Clonmel Oil Chase on reappearance before following-up in the Savills Chase.
He was then luckless in-running when taking a bad step on landing after jumping the first fence and unseating his rider in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Connections got compensation for that disappointment, however, as Kemboy bolted up in the Betway Bowl at Aintree during the Grand National meeting.
He had dual King George VI Chase scorer Clan Des Obeaux beaten nine lengths on Merseyside.
This Voix Du Nord gelding then lowered the colours of stable companion and Cheltenham hero Al Boum Photo in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Kemboy was two lengths too good for his fellow Mullins inmate, but jockey Ruby Walsh stole headlines by announcing his retirement.
Those exploits earned this horse an official rating of 177 – the highest by 8lbs in this year’s Irish Gold Cup.
However, Kemboy was a fading fourth on return to action when bidding to defend his Savills Chase crown over course and distance in December.
He could well come on for that run and only has 3 1/2 lengths to find, but was untidy with his round of jumping.
It’s for that reason that Kemboy is taken on at odds of 7/4 with Unibet here.
Presenting Percy continues comeback in Irish Gold Cup
Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy finished lame on the big day after interrupted preparations.
The nine-year-old has since shaped well enough in two starts to suggest he could be building up to something again.
Trained by Pat Kelly, this Sir Percy gelding is a dual Galmoy Hurdle winner who comes to the Irish Gold Cup instead of that Grade 2 contest.
He has won three of eight starts over fences, including the 2018 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Presenting Percy couldn’t find ground soft enough to build on that exciting novice campaign that also saw him land the Porterstown Handicap Chase over the Irish Grand National trip at Fairyhouse.
He went to the Gold Cup off the back of a second run in the Galmoy, but was never really travelling.
When dropped down back to an inadequate trip in the John Durkan on reappearance in November, Presenting Percy finished a fine third to Min when beaten just over three lengths.
On Savills Chase form from last time out, he only has four lengths to find on Delta Work and a half-length on Kemboy.
Presenting Percy cannot be ruled out, then, and is 9/2 with Betway to come on for his two runs prior to the Irish Gold Cup.
Chris’s Dream takes a big step up in class and grade after winning the Troytown Handicap at Navan when last in action, meanwhile.
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, this eight-year-old has won three of six career chase outings.
While Chris’s Dream is open to further progress, this is a big ask and odds of 13/2 with Boylesports seem a little short despite his potential to improve.
Those who finished further down the Savills Chase field, meanwhile, are hard to fancy off the same terms.
