It was another memorable year for County Meath trainer Gordon Elliott in 2025. From his Cullentra House base, the Grand National-winning handler sent out a consistent stream of high-profile winners, including one at the Cheltenham Festival and six in Grade 1 company.
While the year provided plenty of reasons to celebrate, there were also moments of sadness. Perhaps the biggest blow of all came early in the year, with the news that the yard, and owners Gigginstown House Stud, had lost one of their most loved stars.
Making his debut for Elliott in May 2017, Delta Work represented the yard with distinction for the best part of eight years. Still going strong at 12 years of age, the son of Network was being prepared for a third crack at the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In a tragic twist of fate, he never made it to the starting line in March. Struck down by colic, Delta Work could not be saved and passed away in February.
Some sad news to bring you this morning.
Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work has died at the age of 12 after suffering a bout of colic. pic.twitter.com/OhwROshvkR
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 20, 2025
Completing 38 of 40 career outings and hitting the frame 24 times, Delta Work ticked every box an owner could wish for in a racehorse. Successful 12 times, he amassed just under £1 million in prize money, and at his peak was one of the very best in the business.
Five Grade 1 Wins
Recruited from the French yard of Emmanuel Clayeux in February 2017, Delta Work made his Irish debut in a Cork maiden hurdle in May of that year. He managed only second that day but would go on to success at a much higher level.
Reaching a peak career rating of 171, Delta Work competed in 16 Grade 1 contests throughout his long and distinguished career. While his form in top company tailed off as Father Time caught up with him, he was a force to be reckoned with in his pomp. In his first eight outings in Grade 1 company, Delta Work finished outside the first three only once and registered five memorable victories:
Drinmore Novice Chase 2018
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 10/3 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2nd | Le Richebourg | 11/4F | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Barry Geraghty |
| 3rd | Jetz | 9/1 | Jessica Harrington | Robbie Power |
Delta Work’s first Grade 1 triumph was characterised by his trademark guts and determination. Looking to have the race in safe keeping, a mistake at the last saw him headed by the market leader, Le Richebourg. Despite that error, which left his jockey riding with only one iron, Delta Work put his head down to get back up for a ½l success.
Neville Hotels Novice Chase 2018
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 8/15F | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2nd | Mortal | 7/1 | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Mark Walsh |
| 3rd | Blow By Blow | 10/1 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
With a first Grade 1 in the bag, Delta Work was strongly fancied to follow up in this Leopardstown event. With mistakes at the first and 10th fences, the market leader gave backers a few scares. However, his class came to the fore in the straight. Taking the lead over the third last, he drew further and further clear to score by eight lengths.
Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase 2019
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 13/8F | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2nd | Discorama | 12/1 | Paul Nolan | Bryan Cooper |
| 3rd | A Plus Tard | 9/4 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
Following a third-place outing in the 2019 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, Delta Work returned to home soil in an effort to get back to winning ways. Starting as the 13/8 favourite, he produced the performance of his career to date. Lining up in a field which included future Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard, he left his rivals standing in a 12-lenghth romp.
Savills Chase 2019
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 11/2 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2nd | Monalee | 8/1 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 3rd | Road To Respect | 7/2 | Noel Meade | Sean Flanagan |
Moving into open company for the 2019/20 season, Delta Work fluffed his lines first time out in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal. He soon made amends with a spectacular Grade 1 double. The first leg came courtesy of a relentless finishing effort in this event. Only fifth, and around four lengths behind leader Monalee over the last, Delta Work displayed an irresistible will to win to get up by a head in a thriller.
Irish Gold Cup 2020
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 5/2 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2nd | Kemboy | 5/4F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 3rd | Presenting Percy | 10/3 | Patrick G Kelly | Davy Russell |
Returning to the scene of his Savills Chase success, Delta Work didn’t leave things as late in the Irish Gold Cup. With five runners spread across the track, Jack Kennedy kicked his mount into the lead over the final fence. Despite the best efforts of Presenting Percy and Kemboy, who challenged on either side, Delta Work showed true grit to claim the fifth and final Grade 1 of his career.
Cheltenham Festival Heroics
The common thread running through Delta Work’s Grade 1 wins is that all five victories came in Ireland. His two top-level outings in Britain resulted in a third-place finish in the 2019 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase and a fine fifth behind Al Boum Photo in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, the scene of those Grade 1 defeats also provided the stage for some of Delta Work’s most memorable moments.
Making his Cheltenham Festival debut in 2018, Delta Work made five appearances at the March showpiece and had his name up in lights on three occasions:
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 2018
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 6/1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2nd | Glenloe | 9/2F | Gordon Elliott | Barry Geraghty |
| 3rd | Connetable | 33/1 | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden |
| 4th | Taj Badalandabad | 40/1 | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
It was a golden year for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in 2018, with the trainer and owner teaming up for eight Cheltenham Festival wins. Included in that number was a five-year-old Delta Work, who mastered stablemate Glenloe by a nose in one of the most pulsating finishes of the meeting.
Glenfarclas Chase 2022
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 5/2F | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2nd | Tiger Roll | 3/1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 3rd | Plan Of Attack | 25/1 | Henry De Bromhead | Darragh O’Keeffe |
Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll was understandably the centre of attention ahead of the 2022 event over the distinctive Cross Country obstacles. Making the final appearance of a legendary career, the dual Grand National winner was seeking to win the race for a fourth time and, but for his stablemate, he would have done so. Locked together over the last, Tiger Roll and Delta Work lay it all on the line on the run in, with Delta Work getting on top inside the final 50 yards.
Glenfarclas Chase 2023
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Delta Work | 11/10F | Gordon Elliott | Keith Donoghue |
| 2nd | Galvin | 11/4 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 3rd | Franco De Port | 9/2 | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
With Tiger Roll enjoying his retirement, Delta Work started as the 11/10f in the defence of his crown. Just as in 2022, a pair of Elliott runners had the race between them on the run to the last, with Galvin throwing down a stern challenge to the market leader. In a finish which mirrored the previous year’s edition, Delta Work’s reserves of stamina won the day as he pulled away in the closing stages.
A Horse of a Lifetime
In addition to his five Grade 1 wins and standout moments at Prestbury Park, Delta Work also hit the frame in two Grand Nationals – finishing third behind Noble Yeats in 2022 and second to I Am Maximus in 2024. Even in a yard as big as that of Elliott, horses like him simply don’t come along very often. Paying tribute to his fallen star, the trainer stated:
“He was such a huge favourite of the yard, and he gave us so many memorable days over so many seasons. As a five-time Grade 1 winner and a triple Cheltenham Festival winner, he was everything you could hope for in a racehorse.”
