WAITING Patiently is among 44 entries, including a record 29 from Ireland, for the £350,000 Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old, trained by Yorkshire-based Ruth Jefferson who had the 2018 Ryanair Chase third Cloudy Dream, has won six of his seven starts over fences, with his most notable coming in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February.

Owned by Richard Collins, Waiting Patiently met his first defeat over fences last time out when hampered and unseating regular partner Brian Hughes at the ninth fence in the Grade 1 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on December 26th. Connections have indicated that the Ryanair Chase is the horse’s likely Cheltenham target.

Some 13 of the record 29 Irish-trained entries are from the stable of Willie Mullins. The pick of the Mullins’ contenders are Al Boum Photo, Footpad, Kemboy, 2017 winner Un De Sceaux, who was also second last year, and Min.

Gordon Elliott has six contenders including Shattered Love and The Storyteller, both of whom were successful at Cheltenham last year.

Henry de Bromhead saddled the Ryanair Chase winner last year in Balko Des Flos, but has yet to hit top form in three runs so far his season. The trainer has also entered 2018 RSA Chase runner-up Monalee, Petit Mouchoir and Sub Lieutenant.

CURRENT BETTING

5 Min, 7 Waiting Patiently, Footpad, 8 Monalee, Un De Sceaux, 10 Road To Respect, Politologue, Balko Des Flos, 14 bar.