Jack Kennedy has been told he must ride Delta Work over Gold Cup winner Minella Indo this weekend.
The 22-year-old jockey partnered the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo to victory in the blue-riband race at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but has been told by Gordon Elliott that he must ride Delta Work in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Davy Russell will not partner Envoi Allen, who he rode to all four of his hurdle wins before picking up a neck injury prior to the Cheveley Park Stud-owned horse going over fences.
Envoi Allen was one of a number of horses removed from Elliott's yard by Cheveley Park Stud earlier this year after a photo emerged of the Meath handler sitting on a dead horse.
Russell will instead ride Vado Forte against Envoi Allen in the Join Racing TV Chase.
Explaining the decision, Elliott told The Racing Post: “I have my own jockeys. They are either riding for me or they aren’t. I have my own owners to keep happy and my owners wanted my jockeys to ride their horses so that’s the way it is.”
The trainer added: “I want to see my jockeys ride good horses but I have runners in the same races. If my owners want my jockeys, there’s nothing I can do.
“It’s hard for Jack having to get off a Gold Cup winner but he rides a lot of our horses here and we’re hoping that Delta Work is our Gold Cup horse.”
The decision will be a huge boost for Rachael Blackmore, who will now ride both Minella Indo and Envoi Allen.
Minella Indo has shortened up at the head of the betting for the Grade 1 contest, according to the sponsors.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Minella Indo is odds-on to make a winning start to his season on Saturday and although Galvin has the fitness edge, punters can’t see past the Gold Cup winner.”
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