At least all four legs are still standing …

Delta Work

Gold Cup

DELTA Work has a big chance in the Gold Cup. Gordon Elliott’s horse won the Savills Chase at Christmas and he won the Irish Gold Cup in February, and he is reportedly in good form and on track.

He could only finish third in the RSA Chase last year, but he wasn’t beaten far, and he didn’t have the run of the race that day.

He won the Pertemps Final as a five-year-old, so we know that he can handle the track and Cheltenham Festival conditions. He lost a few fans when he was beaten at Down Royal on his debut this season, but there were excuses that day, he came home lame, and he has never been at his best on his seasonal debut anyway.

The Gigginstown House horse probably has to improve on the bare form of his Irish Gold Cup win if he is going to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he has the potential to progress. He is a young horse, he is only seven, his jumping is better now than it was last year when he was a novice, and the step-up to an extended three and a quarter miles should suit him well.

A Plus Tard

Ryanair Chase

A Plus Tard’s victory in the Close Brothers Chase at last year’s festival meeting was, visually, one of the most impressive performances of the week. He raced off a mark of just 144 that day, and it was a limited novices’ handicap, but he couldn’t have been any more impressive than he was in winning it.

Henry de Bromhead’s horse has taken the step-up in grade in his stride this season. He ran well to finish second to the high-class Ballyoisin in the Fortria Chase on his seasonal return, and he improved from that to beat Chacun Pour Soi in the Paddy’s Rewards Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.

On a strict line through Chacun Pour Soi, he has Min’s measure. It is not as straightforward as that, of course.

Chacun Pour Soi probably improved significantly between defeat to A Plus Tard in December and victory over Min in February.

That said, A Plus Tard should improve for the step back up to two and a half miles in the Ryanair Chase, and he is only six. He has the potential to improve sufficiently to allow him bridge the 6lb that he has to find on Min on official ratings.

City Island

Stayers’ Hurdle

City Island has the monster Paisley Park to beat and, of course, that is not going to be easy. As well as that, he hasn’t had the ideal preparation.

He has run twice over fences this season and, while his latest run at Punchestown was a step-up on his chasing debut at Leopardstown, he was still well beaten into second place by Carefully Selected, and he would have only finished third had Speak Easy not come down at the final fence.

That said, the decision to return to hurdles is an interesting one. Martin Brassil’s horse was very good in winning the Ballymore Hurdle last year. He travelled smoothly through his race that day, and he stayed on well over the last and up the run-in to get the better of Champ, with good horses like Brewin’upastorm and Sams Profile and Galvin behind him.

It is a big ask, but we know that his trainer is well able to have a horse primed for a big day and, back at the scene of his Ballymore Hurdle win, he has a squeak.

Minella Indo

RSA Chase

Minella Indo sprang a 50/1 shock when he won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, but there was no fluke about that victory.

He was keen enough early on, and he was in front from a fair way out, but he stayed on really strongly to beat Commander Of Fleet and Allaho. Then he came back to Punchestown and he beat them again.

Henry de Bromhead’s horse has run just twice over fences this season so far, and both runs were good. He shaped well on his chasing bow behind Laurina at Gowran Park in November, over an inadequate two and a half miles, then stepped forward from that to win his beginners’ chase at Navan next time over three.

He stayed on well to win that day, and the runner-up, Captain Cj, came out and won the Grade 2 Ten Up Chase next time.

He jumps well and he has the potential to progress again.