Skelton sets out National aim for Panic Attack

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

Panic Attack rewarded the bold 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 proved her stamina over an extended three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time.

The Randox Grand National has therefore come into focus for the mare, with preparations likely to include a trip to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is readied for the world’s greatest steeplechase in April.

“She’s going to go to Newbury in January, there’s a mares’ race for her there,” said Skelton.

“Then she will possibly go to Kelso en route 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 firmly 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.

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 instead of a previously mooted trip to Ireland for the Savills Chase.

“I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was really tempted by it, but on balance we thought it was more sensible to keep him this side of the Irish Sea before his Gold Cup bid,” said Skelton.

“He’s a horse who has stepped up to the mark, it was a great run at Haydock and we’ll be hoping to replicate one of those a few more times.”