Waiting Patiently Could be the Next Northern Star with King George Win

On Boxing Day next week, we could see the next star of northern racing really come to the fore in the shape of Waiting Patiently. The exceptionally talented seven yeard old is already a grade one winner over fences, so it won’t be a complete surprise but this is his big test, to see if he really can mix it with the best of the best.

In the King George Chase at Kempton he goes up against the likes of Native River and Might Bite, the one-two from the Gold Cup last season, and getting anywhere near those two would make him the best horse in the north for sure. That title is probably currently held by Definitly Red, who has already won a couple of grade two contests this season, but when he moves up into grade one company he has shown in the past that it is a step too far for him. Waiting Patiently is out to prove that it isn’t a step too far, something we will find out a week from now.

Since moving to the Jefferson yard just over two years ago, we have only seen Waiting Patiently run six times, which gives him a pretty good name considering how slow things have to be taken with him. He isn’t a horse that has had major problems, but racing does take a lot out of him and he needs periods between his races to get back to his best, which is why we have not yet seen him this season.

However, even though we have only seen him six times for the yard, all of which have come over fences, he has won every single time, picking up some nice prizes along the way. The best so far has been his defeat of Cue Card in the grade one Betfair Ascot Chase in February. He stayed on strongly that day, and the step up to three miles here, which will be the first time he has encountered the distance, is likely to bring even more improvement out in him, which is an exciting thought.

As a novice he beat Politologue, who has gone onto great things since then and looks likely to line up against him in the King George. He has rock solid form in the book, and the betting market also loves Waiting Patiently, making him the second favourite behind Might Bite for the race. That horse has to bounce back from a disappointing run last time out in the Betfair Chase, and that is just one of a number of things that makes this race wide open and very interesting.

Boxing Day is traditionally a great racing day, with a fantastic mix of top class action and sheer quantity of racing. With everything that is going off on that day, some stories are often pushed aside, however should Waiting Patiently lift the King George title for the north, there is no doubt that this horse would make the headlines for day afterwards.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson took over from her father earlier this year after he passed away and she was dealt an early blow with the news that some of her stable stars would be moved away from the yard to other trainers. Waiting Patiently stuck with her, and she sees this as her chance to reward the trust shown in her by bringing home the big one. This is a race that would put both the horse and the trainer firmly on the map, and there are few out there who deserve it more than these two.