Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Anxiety Attack

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


Panic Attack rewarded the 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 a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong trip for the very first time.


The Randox Grand National has actually for that reason entered focus for the mare, with preparations likely to consist of a trip to Newbury and perhaps Kelso as she is prepared for the world's greatest 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 perhaps go to Kelso en route to the Grand National, that's our objective.


"If we elegant having a go at the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival then we might, but our sights are securely 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 kind 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 awaits the eight-year-old, who will get ready for the pinnacle of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the same track in January instead of a formerly mooted trip 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 reasonable 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 an excellent perform at Haydock and we'll be intending to replicate among those a couple of more times."