Malcolm's memorial becomes Ruth's poignant path to the big time

Were Waiting Patiently never to set foot on a racecourse again he would still have earned an immovable place in the affections of Ruth Jefferson. Not just as the Grade 1-winning steeplechaser who transported Newstead Cottage Stables back to jump racing's sunlit uplands, but also as the horse who provided her with the most poignant moment of her career.

For most of us, the seven-year-old's titanic clash with Cue Card in February's Ascot Chase was an undisputed highlight of the season. For Jefferson, however, it was far more than that. It was a turbulent confluence of emotions in the aftermath of the death from cancer of her father Malcolm; an apt crystallisation of what the two had achieved together; and a fitting memorial to her father's widely hailed decency and professionalism.

Many, from northern racing circles and beyond, were drawn to the moment, which came the day after Malcolm's funeral. They flocked to shed a tear, to pay tribute and to celebrate, but such moments are fleeting and life soon moves us all on, back to the inevitable anti-climaxes that come with the routine. Within days the equine hero of the hour was on the injured list, struck down by a minor tendon injury and in need of months of unremarkable recuperation. It was back to reality for everybody, but for Ruth the memories were still alive.