Grand National Lucky Dip

Delta Work has leapt to the top of the market for the Grand National following his defeat at Cheltenham of stablemate and two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll. That victory at Cheltenham was Delta Work’s first attempt at a Cross Country race, a discipline where experience of the unique obstacles is usually the key to success. Delta Work took to this new racing environment with aplomb, outbattling the mighty Tiger Roll for a hard-fought victory with over twenty lengths back to the third horse. The nine-year-old gelding was on a seven-race losing streak before that, which is most unusual for Delta Work, who has been a prolific winner at all levels. The Gordon Elliott trained gelding has been a star for his stable and is now a dual Cheltenham Festival winner after also taking the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle in 2018. Also on a star-studded CV are five Grade One victories, including the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Winners of the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival have an excellent record when moving on to Aintree, with Tiger Roll winning both races and Cause of Causes and Balthazar King winning at Cheltenham and finishing second in the Grand National. When making a selection for the Grand National one of the main considerations is the effectiveness of the horse in question to cope with the possible ground conditions. Delta Work has recorded victories on good ground right through to heavy so it seems that whatever the underfoot conditions at Aintree he is unlikely to be inconvenienced. Delta Work will obviously need to prove he has the stamina for the 4m 2f distance at Aintree but his sire, Network, is already responsible for Saint Are who finished second in the Grand National in 2015 and third in 2017 so it could well be that Delta Work will thrive under this extreme test of stamina.