Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Panic Attack

Plans are afoot for the Skelton stable to extend into spring as both Panic Attack and Grey Dawning have heading aspirations, at Aintree and Cheltenham respectively.


Anxiety attack rewarded the bold marketing of Dan Skelton and owner Bryan Drew when taking both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup within 2 weeks, the latter of which proved her stamina over an extended three-mile-two-furlong journey for the first time.


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


Anxiety attack 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 potentially go to Kelso en path to the Grand National, that's our objective.


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


Another success story for the Skelton group this term so far was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase victory, in which he reversed the type with Royale Pagaille having actually completed 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 pinnacle of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the very same track in January rather of a formerly mooted journey to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


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


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