Waiting Patiently team eyeing tasty festive prizes after top Tingle Creek effort

Waiting Patiently could be primed for a quick Christmas reappearance with trainer Ruth Jefferson eyeing valuable prizes in Ireland and Britain for her stable star after his excellent return to action in Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase.

Having been off the track for 246 days, Waiting Patiently acquitted himself admirably with a fast-finishing third behind Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux at Sandown and Jefferson is convinced he has what it takes to challenge for major two-mile honours this season.

Jefferson, who did not rule out returning her stable star to two and a half miles, said: "I was very proud of what he achieved. He's come back and run really well. Everyone said straight away 'are you going up in trip?' But he isn't slow, is he?

"He's in good form and he's come out of the race all right. He's proved he's well able to rock at that level."

The eight-year-old is entered in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club "Loyalty's Dead, Live For Rewards" Chase at Leopardstown on December 27, when he could face a classy field including hat-trick seeker Simply Ned and leading Queen Mother Champion Chase fancy Chacun Pour Soi.

Alternatively, Waiting Patiently could be directed to the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on the same day – a race won by Altior en route to his second Champion Chase success last season.

Waiting Patiently unseats Brian Hughes in last year's King George VI ChaseCredit: Mark Cranham

"He's in at Leopardstown, there's the Desert Orchid, the Clarence House, the Ascot Chase and the Queen Mother and Ryanair," Jefferson said. "I can't leave him for Cheltenham because I wouldn't know what the ground will be there and he loves it soft.

"If he's all right in three weeks he might go to Ireland or he might go for the Desert Orchid. If he's not, he might wait for the Clarence House and hope that's soft."

Twelve months ago Waiting Patiently, who was on Saturday clipped into 14-1 (from 25) for March's Queen Mother Champion Chase, unseated in unfortunate fashion after being hampered by Bristol De Mai when sent off 4-1 for the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The remainder of the season did not go as planned, with heavy defeats by Cyrname at Ascot and Min at Aintree removing some of the lustre of his maiden Grade 1 victory in the 2018 Ascot Chase.

Reflecting on a difficult 12 months, Jefferson added: "What happened at Kempton was unlucky and then at Ascot the ground was probably too quick and he never enjoyed himself.

"He probably had something wrong that we didn't find until after Aintree. We put things right that needed putting right and he's repaid us."

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