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.


Panic Attack rewarded the strong 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 proved her stamina over a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong journey for the first time.


The Randox Grand National has therefore come into focus for the mare, with preparations likely to consist of a trip to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is prepared 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," stated Skelton.


"Then she will potentially 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, 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 success, in which he reversed the kind 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 prepare for the pinnacle of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the exact same track in January instead of a formerly mooted journey to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was actually lured by it, however on balance we thought it was more 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 an excellent run at Haydock and we'll be wanting to replicate among those a couple of more times."