While Minella Times bids to go back-to-back by claiming the £1million prize at the Grand National on Saturday with jockey Rachael Blackmore, Delta Work has gained traction with money pouring in to back the Gigginstown House Stud-owned, brown gelding.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Delta Work comes into Aintree with a headline grabbing win at Cheltenham, beating double-Grand National winner Tiger Roll by skipping through the Cross Country course. It was the first time Delta Work had been over those obstacles and clearly beat stablemate Tiger Roll, who is a seasoned pro over such courses.
Giving punters hope of a further triumph, is the fact that Tiger Roll won the same race before each of his Grand National wins. A classy operator with the ability to turn it on when it matters, Delta Work has risen to become one of Saturday's favourites at around 8/1 with most bookmakers to take first.
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However, with 22-year-old jockey Jack Kennedy at the reins, who rode Minella Indo to victory in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Delta Work has not been in dominant form. The seven-year-old's form has been spotty, with it reading 5U3-4661, putting some punters off. Unseating his jockey last season, it could prove a recurring problem in the madness of the Grand National's 16 fences and up to 40 runners.
Despite this, G Elliott told the media that "He's had a good prep. It (the Cross-Country) has been a good stepping stone for the race for me and he's in good form". With Tiger Roll out of the main event equation, Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud team are all in on Delta Work.
His owners have tasted Grand National success in three of the last five years it has been held, twice with Tiger Roll and another in 2016 with Rule The World. One of the most successful ownerships in modern racing, Gigginstown could emerge victorious yet again on Saturday.
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