PATIENCE CAN BE REWARDED
Ruth chases King prize
WAITING PATIENTLY is primed to end a 22-year drought for the north in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
It would be a remarkable training performance as the seven-year-old has not had a prep race.
But his Malton handler Ruth Jefferson is confident the unbeaten chaser – he has won six out of six – will lack nothing in fitness.
She said: “I am really pleased with him. He’s looked great since he has come in. He’d had a lovely summer on the grass and he looked great when he came back.
“Since then he has never really given us a moment’s worry.
“We had a touch of an injury that we needed to monitor but he has done everything we wanted him to do.”
Waiting Patiently is currently the 11-2 second favourite for the 32Red-sponsored race but has not been seen since an emotional success in the Ascot Chase in February, when he beat Cue Card.
That came the day after the funeral of Ruth’s father, Malcolm, the legendary Yorkshire trainer.
“He is a clean-winded horse and easy to get fit,” she added.
This will be the first time that Waiting Patiently has run over three miles but Jefferson is sure he will handle the step up in trip.
She said: “It’s not a worry to me as I think he will stay but until he does I suppose you don’t know, do you?
“A lot of good horses will be effective over every trip won’t they. He has got speed, he has got stamina, probably his biggest asset is his ability to switch off in a race and not do too much too early which will help him see out the trip.
“What impressed us at Ascot wasn’t just that he switched off, they went a hell of a gallop round Ascot with Cue
Card, but when Brian said will you go – off he went.
Gordon Richards’ brilliant grey One Man was the last northerntrained horse to win the King George in 1996.
The Coral Welsh National on Thursday at Chepstow looks ultra competitive but that could also go to the north with Vintage Clouds.
Fourth in the race last year, Vintage Clouds is trained at Bingley by Sue and Harvey Smith and has the Grand National as his main target this season.
Looks nowt like brian should run a huge race while it would be some performance from Elegant Escape if he can carry 11st 8lb to victory.