Malcolm Jefferson © Photo Healy Racing
Waiting Patiently could tackle the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham after connections decided against a trip to Ireland for this weekend's John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.
The exciting six-year-old is unbeaten in four starts over fences since joining Malcolm Jefferson from the now-retired Keith Reveley, most recently impressing on his seasonal reappearance in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle.
The Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and the John Durkan were mentioned as potential big-race targets, but he looks set to line up in Cheltenham's valuable handicap on Saturday week.
Ruth Jefferson, assistant to her father, said: "The only race he's entered in is the Cheltenham race and as the ground is right and he's right, we'll probably give it a go.
"He'll have to carry top-weight, but it might be his last chance to run in a big handicap. The John Durkan is a good race, but if he went close in that, he probably wouldn't be able to run in a handicap again.
"We'll probably take him to Cheltenham and take on the big boys after that if he's good enough."
