Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Anxiety Attack

Plans are afoot for the Skelton stable success to extend into spring as both Panic Attack and Grey Dawning have headline 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 two weeks, the latter of which showed her stamina over an extended three-mile-two-furlong journey for the very first time.


The Randox Grand has actually therefore entered into focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to include a trip to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is readied 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 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, however our sights are firmly set on the Grand National."


Another success story for the Skelton team this term up until now was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase triumph, in which he reversed the type with Royale Pagaille having actually 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 get ready for the peak 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 lured by it, but 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 a fantastic perform at Haydock and we'll be intending to reproduce among those a couple of more times."