Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Panic Attack

Plans are afoot for the Skelton steady success to extend into spring as both Anxiety attack and Grey Dawning have headline ambitions, 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 2 weeks, the latter of which showed her stamina over an extended three-mile-two-furlong trip for the very first time.


The Randox Grand National has for that reason entered focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to include a trip to and possibly Kelso as she is readied 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," stated Skelton.


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


"If we expensive having a go at the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival then we might, however our sights are securely 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 form with Royale Pagaille having actually ended up 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 instead 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, however on balance we thought 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 perform at Haydock and we'll be intending to reproduce one of those a couple of more times."