Waiting Patiently For King George VI Chase Waiting Patiently is the great unknown among the horses competing at Kempton Park in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. The seven year old has been quietly rising through the chasing ranks, winning his last seven races on the bounce, culminating in his first Grade 1 success in the Betfair Ascot Chase last February. However, the King George will be a further step up in quality, facing a number of top notch competitors, including the 2017 champion Might Bite. Waiting Patiently could be good value for the event given his relative obscurity. Although the glamour of placing a bet at the races is appealing to traditionalists, you can often find the better odds online where there is greater diversity in the markets along with other incentives such as welcome bonuses of up to £1000 that make the value of backing a horse like Waiting Patiently even greater. He is currently priced in the region of 5/1 for Wednesday’s race, which could be argued is short given the form of his rivals heading into the event. However, few could argue that he could spring a minor surprise. Waiting Patiently was moved into the late Malcolm Jefferson’s yard to go chasing ahead of the start of the 2016/17 season after previously being under the charge of Keith Reveley. He notched the second win of his career on his first try over fences at Sedgefield, delivering a comfortable seven-length triumph. The Irish bred horse was sent off odds-on for his next outing at Newcastle in another Novices' Chase and once again with Brian Hughes in the saddle, he was able to record an easy win. Jefferson’s charge had his first proper test at Haydock Park in a Grade 2 Novices' Chase in January of last year when facing off against Politologue. The Paul Nicholls’ trained horse had strong credentials entering the race having scored twice over the stiff Haydock fences, but Waiting Patiently was able to rise to the occasion to outduel his rival. Hughes pushed the bay gelding on at the last fence to take the lead and he went on to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths with 20 lengths and more back to the rest of the field. After a 10-month absence, he returned to the track at Carlisle in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase. The outcome was not as straightforward as initially expected, as he was forced to battle with Belami Des Pictons in the closing stages. However, the seven-year-old pulled away to enter the winners’ circle once again. The stakes were raised in his first race of 2018 at Kempton Park in the 32Red Casino Chase. On this occasion, the bay gelding was dominant with a smooth performance as he waited for his moment before gliding through the field with ease, ending the contest eight lengths ahead of his nearest rival. Malcolm Jefferson passed away before Waiting Patiently would compete again. Daughter Ruth Jefferson assumed control of his training. The Ascot Chase was his first foray into Grade 1 company and he initially had trouble finding his rhythm at the famous racecourse. Jockey Brian Hughes knew Waiting Patiently well by this stage and didn’t panic. He instead delayed his challenge until after the final jump and the pair coasted over the line ahead of Cue Card by two-and-a-half lengths. Injuries ended his 2018 season and he has not competed since February. Waiting Patiently will attempt to win the King George without a prep-race but the stable has been doing similar on a regular basis this season and a recent schooling session at Hexham will have blown off any cobwebs in advance of his greatest test.
