Forecast rain can help Waiting Patiently’s surprise Clarence House Chase bid

Connections of the Ruth Jefferson-trained gelding decided to add him to the field at the five-day confirmation stage for Saturday’s feature, because he had taken his run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day so well.

The lightly-raced 10-year-old, owned by Richard Collins, finished strongly to take second place behind Frodon in the Christmas showpiece on his first start since December 2019.

That race was over three miles. But Waiting Patiently is versatile trip-wise and will appreciate the rain, between 24 and 27 centimetres, which is forecast this week between Monday evening and Thursday on ground already described as soft.

Waiting Patiently’s most recent success came at the Berkshire track when he landed the Grade One Ascot Chase over two and a half miles in February 2018.

“He came out of the King George really well, ridiculously well, in himself,” said Malton-based Jefferson. “I was mad with myself I didn’t enter him in the first place – and we felt a couple of weeks ago if he was all right, and there was plenty of rain about, we’d have a crack at it.

“It gives us a bit more time to think about Cheltenham rather than wait for the Ascot Chase (next month).

“We might go for that race, but we thought we’d run him while he was well in himself – and it frees up other options.

“They might get a frost but they are due about 25 millimetres of rain first at Ascot, so it’s going to be right up his street ground wise. He handles it better than most.”

His nine potential rivals are headed by Politologue. The Paul Nicholls-trained grey won last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, and made a successful seasonal debut in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last month.

Meanwhile dual champion hurdler Buveur D’Air is among just five entries for the New One Unibet Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

The Nicky Henderson-trained 10-year-old has not been seen since being surprisingly beaten in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle in which he picked up a nasty injury to his hoof.

He was beaten on that day by Micky Hammond’s Cornerstone Lad who had to play second fiddle to Henderson’s Dame De Compagnie, a former Cheltenham Festibal winner, in a two-mile novice chase at Ayr yesterday.

Cornerstone Lad has now been runner up on both of his starts over larger obstacles.

Juddmonte Farms is to operate as normal after the death of its founder Khalid Abdullah.

The Saudi prince owned and bred some of the greatest equine names the sport has ever seen –- with his famous green, pink and white silks carried by the likes of Frankel, Dancing Brave and dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable.

Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive of the Juddmonte Group, said the family were committed to keep the operation going despite Abdullah’s death at the age of 83.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.