Owners Gigginstown House Stud welcomed Delta’s work as a “absolute superstar” after the three years that the winner of the Cheltenham festival died on Thursday morning after a period of colic.
He was trained by Gordon Elliott, the 12 -year -old won a dozen times overall, a tally that includes five wins at Grade 1 level.
His first success of the Cheltenham Festival came to the 2018 PERTEMPS final and returned to Cotswolds to win Glenfarclas’ renewals around Prestbury Park’s Cross-Country Courth three years.
The Gelding Network, whose Big-Race CV also includes a 2020 Irish Gold Cup victory, was prepared for a third inclination at Glenfarclas Chase and possibly a fourth excursion to the Grand National at Aintree, ending the third in 2022 and the second one To be Maximus last season.
However, after showing signs of colic, he was transferred to Fethard Equine Hospital and underwent surgery, but the veteran could not be saved.
“He was an incredible horse and we were very, very lucky and proud to have him and were associated with him,” said Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
Delta’s job hit Great Tiger Roll to win 2022 Cross Country Chase
“He was brilliant for Gordon and Gordon was brilliant for him. He was so flexible, so honest and so healthy.
“He had the colic this morning and we tried to work to save him for the field, but even that unfortunately didn’t work.
“It seems that he was around forever and God bless him. He was an absolute superstar.”
In a brief statement published on X, Elliott said: “Unfortunately Delta’s work has died this morning at the age of 12 after a colic period.
“It was a privilege to train and win five points in three Cheltenham festivals. He was a hero and will lose a lot of everyone in Cullentra.”
