Trainer Ruth Jefferson sending Waiting Patiently to Aintree not Cheltenham

WAITING Patiently will sidestep the Cheltenham Festival and instead be aimed at the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Malton trainer Ruth Jefferson’s stable star made a hugely encouraging return from over a year off the track when runner-up to Frodon in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The talented 10-year-old, owned by Richard Collins and the mount of champion jockey Brian Hughes, was subsequently dropped in trip from three miles to two miles and a furlong for the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

There, after being supplemented, he finished third to the front-running First Flow and Politologue, the 2020 Queen Mother Chase hero. Having already been taken out of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Waiting Patiently retained the option of running in either the Ryanair Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the Cotswolds, but has now been scratched from those races, too.

Instead Jefferson will look at the Grade One chases at the National meeting. “I took him out of the Queen Mother ages ago and I’ve now taken him out of the Ryanair and the Gold Cup,” she explained.

“Thinking about it, we felt the King George wasn’t the fastest run three-mile race in the world, so maybe the Gold Cup wasn’t the right option.

“And after his last race, he was going to need a little bit of veterinary attention, so we thought we’d leave him for Aintree.

“He’s not had an issue as such, but the longer between his Ascot run and his next run the better.”

Reflecting on Waiting Patiently’s latest performance, North Yorkshire-based Jefferson added: “I just thought he was flat out, to be honest.

“He came into the race and just stayed on at the same pace.”

Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls is confident King George third Clan Des Obeaux is “back to his best” as he prepares for an intriguing clash with Champ in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.

The nine-year-old faces a new rival on Saturday in the form of Nicky Henderson’s Champ, who has been off the track since his thrilling last-gasp victory in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last March.

But Nicholls is in bullish mood. “It’s quite an encounter and a great-looking race,” he said.

“Champ won the RSA Chase last year.

“Where he is at the top of the market is a bit more on reputation than what he’s achieved at the moment – he’s going to go up against these Grade One warriors like Clan Des Obeaux, who has won King Georges.

“It’s a step up for Champ. He’s a talented horse, and it will be interesting on Saturday to see how he does go.”

The former champion trainer believes there are multiple reasons why Clan Des Obeaux came up short in his bid for a King George hat-trick – and expects to see an improved performance this weekend.

“It didn’t quite happen in the King George. He got further behind than we really wanted and if we were to run the race again he’d have sat closer to Frodon,” explained Nicholls.

“He got a little bit behind and made a mistake at the first fence down the back the second time, and was then on the back foot. I think he did very well to finish as close as he did, but it was just one of those races that didn’t work out.

“He did have a hard race in the Betfair Chase at Haydock as well, probably a harder race than we really wanted, to be honest.

“He seems very fresh and well again now. Harry (Cobden) schooled him this (Tuesday) morning, and I’d say he’s right back to his best, so we’re looking forward to it.”

With Clan Des Obeaux, co-owned by legendary former football manager Sir Alex Ferguson amongst others, failing to run up to expectations in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the past two seasons, Nicholls resisted the temptation to even enter him this time around.

He told Great British Racing: “He’s not entered at Cheltenham. He doesn’t like it there, and a flat track suits him better. Aintree (Betway Bowl) will be ideal – and if things have changed (with travel restrictions) then we’ll have a look at Punchestown.”

Longstanding race starter Peter Haynes retired from the sport last night after officiating for the past 28 years.

The 70-year-old, who has dedicated his life to racing, was previously a jockey and then a trainer while his son, Harry, rode a Cheltenham Festival winner during his career.

Haynes senior stepped down as the Grand National starter after presiding over a number of false starts in 2007.

Former Grand National-winning jockey Brendan Powell tweeted: “Top man. Loved riding for him when he trained. Great jockey in his day too.”

Meanwhile top Flat rider Luke Morris posted: “Happy Retirement to Peter, he’s a top man. Well deserved.”

Classic-winning jockey Jamie Spencer, and commentator Mike Cattermole, also posted tributes as an era came to an end.

Today’s jumps card at Ludlow, and tomorrow’s meeting at Town Moor, Doncaster, have been abandoned.

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