Waiting Patiently to drop back to two miles for Tingle Creek clash on Saturday

Waiting Patiently is to drop back in trip for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday rather than take up his other weekend options over further.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson confirmed Sandown was "first preference" to test whether the eight-year-old still had the speed to trouble the remaining two-mile stars in the absence of champion Altior.

"We're going to find out if he is fast enough for two miles and will go from there," said Jefferson, who will again fit the cheekpieces Waiting Patiently sported for the first time when third in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April.

"He's got a little bit to prove but is going there fresh and well and on ground he likes."

Plans to run Waiting Patiently in the Haldon Gold Cup a month ago had to be scrapped as he got a resistant bacterial infection.

Waiting Patiently, a 10-1 outsider on Saturday behind 6-4 favourite Defi Du Seuil, will be taking on old adversary Politologue. The pair have met on four occasions, firstly over 2m4f at Haydock in their novice days three seasons ago when Waiting Paitiently came out on top by a length and a quarter in receipt of 3lb.

Jefferson's charge also finished in front of Politologue in last season's Betfair Ascot Chase, but the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old had the upper hand when runner-up, beating Waiting Patiently by nine lengths, in the Melling Chase.

Neither could make an impact in last season's King George, with Politologue finishing fourth and Waiting Patiently badly hampered and unseating Brian Hughes at the ninth fence, and it was his Kempton run that tilted the balance in favour of Sandown over the Fitzdares Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase on Sunday.

Jefferson said: "They went very fast over the early fences [in the King George] and Brian [Hughes] felt he travelled so well until brought to a standstill. He was the only one still swinging along and then Politologue didn't stay so we weren't tempted to enter him for the race again."

Five dry days at Sandown has seen the ground improve to good to soft, soft in places on the chase course, with the hurdle track soft with isolated heavy patches.

There are no overnight frosts forecast and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "We're not going to see the worst of the rain forecast for the south east this week with mostly showers and up to five millimetres in total.

"If we get that it would probably turn the chase course around again to soft, good to soft in places but it will be fresh ground on Saturday with the bends out three yards on Friday."

Racegoers are advised to travel early as the ongoing train strike on South Western Railway means there will be just two ten-carriage trains an hour into Esher instead of the normal six services on race days. Gates open at 10.30am on Saturday and 11am on Friday.

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