Waiting Patiently could return to action in reopened Game Spirit Chase

Waiting Patiently could make an earlier than expected return to action at Newbury on Saturday.

The top-class chaser is among 11 entries for the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase (run this year as the Betfair Exchange Chase), even though he has not run over the two-mile trip for more than a year.

Waiting Patiently, who lost his unbeaten record over fences when badly hampered and unseating his rider in the King George VI Chase, had been thought likely to bid for a repeat of last year's win in the Betfair Ascot Chase this month.

Betfair Exchange Chase entries

But speaking at Market Rasen on Tuesday, trainer Ruth Jefferson said: "The Newbury race reopened and we entered him so we could consider it.

"It's back at two miles but it's soft ground and there's rain forecast. I always said I wouldn't run him back at two miles unless the ground was heavy, but it's possible we might get that."

She added: "It's worth considering but I can't stand here today and say we're going to run him. He schooled this morning and he seems fine, he's ready to go - he just needs somewhere to go!"

Others in the Game Spirit include Fox Norton, Un De Sceaux and smart novice Kalashnikov, though he is more likely to run in the Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick the same day.

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