DELTA Work (6/1), ridden by Davy Russell, just held off Glenloe (9/2 favourite), partnered by Barry Geraghty, in a nail-biting duel on the climb to the line in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday, to provide Gordon Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud with a quick double following Shattered Love's success in the JLT Novices' Chase.

Davy Russell showed he was none the worse after being stood down for the last two races on the second day, following a fall from Bless The Wings, when just getting the better of Barry Geraghty by a nose.

The always-prominent Connetable was two and three-quarter lengths away in third, with a further two and a half lengths back to Taj Badalandabad in fourth.

Russell was winning the Pertemps Final for the third year in a row, following success on Mall Dini in 2016 and Presenting Percy last year.

Elliott, registering his fifth victory of the week and 19th overall at the Festival, commented: "It has been a great day and the horses are flying. I think Glenloe was a bit unlucky because he missed the last and, had he jumped it, he probably would have won.

"To have the first and second in a race like that is unbelievable. I am very lucky with the staff I have along with the owners and the horses.Tuesday I thought it was going to be one of them weeks. But to have five winners now - I can't believe it.

"It was a great ride by Davy but I trained both horses so I didn't care which way the photo went!"

Elliott went on to make it a treble on the day when The Storyteller won later in the afternoon.

Winning owner Michael O'Leary said: "It was a great finish with two master jockeys going hammer and tongs, a terrific finish. Davy is a master jockey and is terrific in these handicaps. He rides Cheltenham brilliantly and is worth a couple of pounds around here."

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