Ruth Jefferson appears intent on a bid for the Irish Gold Cup over the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase with her flag-bearer Waiting Patiently, should he venture to Ireland next month.
The 8yo holds entries in both Grade Ones at Leopardstown, but also holds a card to play in the Ascot Chase two weeks later - a race he won so impressively twelve months ago against everyone's fan favourite Cue Card.
He has been forced to be ironically patient this term, having had only one racecourse outing; that was when he was unfortunately brought down as a result of Bristol De Mai's departure in the King George VI Chase, giving Brian Hughes no chance of remaining in the saddle.
Along with Hughes, Jefferson cannot wait to get her star back on the scene.
(Credit: Sky Sports Racing) She said: “He’s absolutely bouncing in himself, I’ll give him that.
"There’s the options next week and then there’s the Ascot Chase and we’ll either go to Ireland or Ascot.
"The races in Ireland are over two miles or three and I don’t really want to drop him back in trip unless the ground is heavy as we’ve spent a lot of time settling him, so it will be a shame to gee him up.
“We didn’t find out at Kempton whether we stayed three miles because he came down too early. The Ascot trip suits really well, we know that.
“With the ground forecast as it is, I’d favour running him over three miles if we go to Ireland. We either do that or stick to what we know at Ascot.”
Waiting Patiently is expected to skip the Gold Cup at Cheltenham over three miles, in favour for a crack at the Ryanair over two-and-a-half, where he is currently valued by most firms at 6/1.