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 have heading aspirations, 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 showed her endurance over an extended three-mile-two-furlong journey for the very first time.


The Randox Grand National has actually for that reason come into focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to include a journey to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is readied for the world's greatest 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," stated Skelton.


"Then she will perhaps go to Kelso en route to the Grand National, that's our goal.


"If we elegant attempting 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 group this term up until now was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase victory, in which he reversed the form with Royale Pagaille having ended up 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 peak of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the same track in January rather of a formerly mooted trip to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was really 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 a terrific perform at Haydock and we'll be hoping to duplicate one of those a couple of more times."