Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Anxiety Attack

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


Anxiety attack rewarded the strong campaigning 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 showed her stamina over a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong journey for the very first time.


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


Panic 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 perhaps go to Kelso en route to the Grand National, that's our objective.


"If we elegant attempting 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 team this term so far was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase victory, in which he reversed the form 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 awaits the eight-year-old, who will prepare for the pinnacle of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the same track in January rather of a previously mooted journey to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was actually tempted by it, but on balance we believed it was more reasonable to keep him this side of the Irish Sea before his Gold Cup quote," stated 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 reproduce one of those a few more times."