Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Panic Attack

Plans are afoot for the Skelton stable success to extend into spring as both Anxiety attack and Grey Dawning have headline aspirations, at Aintree and Cheltenham respectively.


Panic Attack rewarded the vibrant marketing of Dan Skelton and owner Bryan Drew when taking both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup within two weeks, the latter of which proved her stamina over a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong journey for the first time.


The Randox Grand National has for that reason entered focus for the mare, with preparations likely to include a trip to Newbury and potentially Kelso as she is readied for the world's biggest steeplechase in April.


winning the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)


"She's going to go to Newbury in January, there's a mares' race for her there," said Skelton.


"Then she will perhaps go to Kelso en path to the Grand National, that's our aim.


"If we fancy having a go at the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival then we might, but our sights are securely set on the Grand National."


Another success story for the Skelton group this term up until now was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase victory, in which he reversed the type with Royale Pagaille having finished the runner-up behind him 12 months prior.


Grey Dawning at Aintree last season (Mike Egerton/PA)


The Cheltenham Gold Cup now waits for the eight-year-old, who will prepare for the peak of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the very same track in January rather of a previously mooted trip to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was truly lured by it, however on balance we thought it was more practical to keep him this side of the Irish Sea before his Gold Cup quote," said Skelton.


"He's a horse who has actually stepped up to the mark, it was an excellent run at Haydock and we'll be wanting to duplicate among those a couple of more times."