WAIT GAIN
Northern raider Jefferson to land emotional Ascot Chase win
WAITING PATIENTLY is fancied to make an instant impact at the top level by capturing the Betfair Ascot Chase (3.35, ITV4) today.
The seven-year-old, trained by the late Malcolm Jefferson – and now in the care of his daughter Ruth (above) – is unbeaten in five outings over fences. But now the Yorkshire raider takes on big names Cue Card, Top Notch and Coney Island.
“It’s going to be a proper Grade 1 race,” said Ruth. “We’re going to find out if he is a proper Grade 1 horse.
“It’s his toughest assignment, but I couldn’t be happier with him – and from our point of view he deserves to take his place in the line-up.”
Brian Hughes’s mount racked up the five-timer with an eight-length score in Listed grade at Kempton last month.
Waiting Patiently (5-2) has bags of untapped potential and can prove the point by beating the best to set up a crack at the Ryanair Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
THERE are two trials for the Grand National today but both are contested by small fields.
With only seven going to post at Ascot, the race has panned out well for Nicky Henderson’s GOLD PRESENT.
He has a tendency to jump to the right, which hardly makes him an ideal Aintree candidate — although it does give him an advantage here.
The eight-year-old has won both his races this season, following up a Newbury success with an impressive beating of Frodon here. MS PARFOIS has a brilliant attitude to chasing and can upset Black Corton in the Reynoldstown. THREE FACES WEST has been on our list of Horses to Follow since the autumn and runs in the eight-runner trial at Haydock. TODAY’S SELECTIONS Ascot 1.50 Ms Parfois 2.25 Gold Present Haydock 3.15 Three Faces West HORSES TO FOLLOW Admiral Barratry, Amoola Gold, Belami Des Pictons, Bennachie, Binge Drinker, Blaklion, Book Of Gold, Cadeyrn, Casterly Rock, Cirano Du Sivola, Constantine Bay, Cornbury, Dead Right, Doesyourdogbite, Dortmund Park, Dounikos, Duke Street, Farclas, Give Me A Copper, Invitation Only, Kaveman, Kylemore Loch, Le Baigue Au Roi, Lord Duveen, Lord Napier, Man Of Plenty, Marcilhac, Midnight Chill, Midnight Shadow, Paisley Park, Quest For Life, Robin Roe, Rock On Oscar, Romeo Brown, Royal Act, Sam’s Gunner, Scotchtown, Seamour, Simply The Betts, Terrefort, Tobefair, Tossapenny, Tupolev, Valdez, Vision De Nuit.