Conflated will not run in the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 15 and will instead bid to go one better than last year in the Aintree Bowl.
The nine-year-old, who finished third to Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at last week's Cheltenham Festival, is still among the entries for the Grand National. But the Gordon Elliott-trained Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase hero will line-up in the Grade One contest over the Mildmay fences on Grand Opening Day on April 13 and not in the world's greatest steeplechase. His Cullentra House handler had said he would love to run Conflated in the Aintree showpiece as he is "one of the best-handicapped horses in the race". But his owners, Gigginstown House Stud, will pitch Conflated back in the 3m1f Bowl – a race in which he finished second a length behind Clan Des Obeaux on Merseyside 12 months ago.
READ MORE: Full 73 current entries for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree
Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary said: "It was a fantastic run (in the Gold Cup), we were thrilled with the performance and it was a great ride. He's a very nice horse and two very good horses beat us. But we know we have a nice horse and we'll enjoy him while he's around."
On the possibility of running in the National, he added: "I would say maybe next year and this year all being well he will go back to Aintree for the Bowl. I know Gordon says he's well handicapped and he may well be, but if he goes back to the Bowl, hopefully we won't meet the Gold cup first or second there. He's better going left-handed so we would rather go to Aintree than Punchestown."
While any bid for Grand National glory will have to wait for Conflated, last year's third Delta Work will again be a part of the Gigginstown House Stud team in the Aintree showpiece. The 10-year-old, under a patient rider by Jack Kennedy, took to the Aintree challenge superbly 12 months ago, staying-on admittedly at a fair distance to finish behind winner Noble Yeats and runner-up Any Second Now. While both those horses will be returning to Aintree three weeks on Saturday from a higher handicap mark, Delta Work will carry a 1lb lower than last April.
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Delta Work – as he did when he pipped dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll last year – warmed up for Aintree with victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last week. The former Grade One Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup winner again beat a stable-mate at Prestbury Park, when he landed a two-and-a-half length success over Galvin – who is also entered in the Grand National.
And on Delta Work, O'Leary said: "The plan all year was the cross-country and then Grand National. They were his two main targets and he's got one in the bank. Now we'll have a go at the second one all going well and as long as Gordon is happy. He missed the start last year which is really important for him as he doesn't like horses around him. He had a ruck of horses around him, but ran a fantastic race to be third and hopefully he will get away better this year and give himself a chance."
Delta Work is a best-priced 14-1 with Coral behind fellow Cheltenham Festival winner, the Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler – who is a best-priced 8-1 favourite with Coral and Skybet for the Grand National. Last year's Emmet Mullins-trained winner Noble Yeats is vying for favouritism following his staying-on fourth in last week's Cheltenham Gold Cup – he is a best-priced 9-1 with Coral. Delta Work's stable-mate Galvin is a 20-1 chance with William Hill and bet365, while other leading contenders include Willie Mullins' National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard Du Mesnil (14-1 Unibet) and stable-mate Mr Incredible (14-1); last year's runner-up Any Second Now (16-1 William Hill, Skybet), from the Ted Walsh stable; and the Martin Brassil-trained Longhouse Poet (18-1 Paddy Power, Betfair).
