Trainer Ruth Jefferson has confirmed that Waiting Patiently will run in the Ryanair Chase, after deeming the Gold Cup a step too far.
The team had previously been aiming to run the eight-year-old in the 2019 Gold Cup, but have since decided against it after being brought down by Bristol De Mai during the King George Stakes on Boxing Day.
However, that has since put a spanner in their original plans, with Jefferson since confirming that he will go in the Listed 32Red Casino Chase at Kempton on Saturday, before then going for the Ryanair chase. Entries for the race are released on Thursday.
Jefferson told the Racing Post: "He probably won't get an entry for the Gold Cup because we didn't find out whether he stays three miles, let alone further. He'll probably only get a Ryanair entry now.
"We're certainly not writing off the Gold Cup in future, we just didn't learn enough at Kempton to go down that route this season."
On this weekend’s run at Kempton, Jefferson added: "The Kempton race on Saturday is a suitable option. We know we'd have a Grade 1 penalty but it's the right trip. It was worth an entry in case the forecast was wrong and we do actually get some rain."
Waiting Patiently is currently priced at 5/1 to win the Ryanair Chase, with Altior the favourite at 1/1, while Min (4/1), Un De Sceaux (5/1) and Footpad (6/1) the other main contenders in the race.