Waiting Patiently looks set to return to action for the first time in over a year in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Ruth Jefferson's stable star has not been seen since finishing third in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last December following the discovery of a chipped fetlock back in January.
The nine-year-old had been set to return in this year's renewal of the Tingle Creek on Saturday, but Jefferson withdrew him at the confirmation stage due to the ground not being soft enough for him over two miles.
That means Waiting Patiently's return will now come in the three-mile King George later this month, with his only previous run over that distance coming in the same race back in 2018, when he was badly hampered by the fall of Bristol De Mai and ultimately unseated jockey Brian Hughes.
Questions, therefore, remain regarding Waiting Patiently's stamina over three miles, but Jefferson has confirmed he will be going all out for the King George as owner Richard Collins wants him to prove his qualities over the greater distance.
“He's absolutely fine,” Jefferson told reporters. “His owner Richard was very keen to try him again at three miles in the King George.
“We came to an agreement we'd give him a Tingle Creek entry and see what the ground was. If it was soft/heavy, we'd go for it – but it's only just going to be soft and not heavy, so it's back to plan A.
“Everything is going fine, touch wood, so at the moment we are looking ahead to Boxing Day.”
