Colic is a brutal phenomen that can suddenly occur and take any healthy horse's life without warning. It was sad to hear that Delta Work, the winner of 12 of his 40 races and a fan favourite, succumbed to it on February 20th. 

Game, genuine and brave, Delta Work always seemed to try his very best. In addition to his 12 rules wins, he placed in the first three in 12 more of his races. (A loyal follower placing an each way bet on him each time he ran would have made a healthy profit.)

A grand jumper with bags of stamina, Delta Work won his first race over a mile and a half in France in 2016. Soon afterwards he transferred to Gordon Elliot's yard. Gordon sent him out to win five Grade 1s, the most famous of which may have been his 2020 Irish Gold Cup victory over Kemboy.

Delta Work ran in three Grand Nationals. If I Am Maximus hadn't turned up last year he would have won one of them too, and if he hadn't injured himself in the race that day he may have won it anyway. He loved Aintree, finishing third behind Noble Yeats in 2022 and was also going well when he unseated on the second circuit in the 2023 National. While he hadn't fired in his races so far this season, it would have been no surprise if he had finished in the frame this year as well. 

And of course he excelled in the Cross Country at Cheltenham, winning it twice, most famously in an epic race for the 2022 renewal where he and Tiger Roll had that great battle up the hill. 

What a warrior you were Delta Work. RIP.