Skelton Sets Out National Ambition For Anxiety Attack

Plans are afoot for the Skelton stable success to extend into spring as both Anxiety attack and Grey Dawning have headline 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 proved her stamina over an extended three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time.


The Randox Grand National has actually for that reason entered focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to include a trip to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is prepared for the world's greatest steeplechase in April.


Panic Attack 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 route to the Grand National, that's our aim.


"If we fancy attempting 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 team this term so far was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase victory, in which he reversed the kind 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 waits for the eight-year-old, who will prepare for the peak of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the exact same track in January instead of a previously mooted journey to Ireland for the Savills Chase.


"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was truly lured by it, however on balance we thought it was more practical to keep him this side of the Irish Sea before his Gold Cup quote," stated Skelton.


"He's a horse who has stepped up to the mark, it was a great perform at Haydock and we'll be wishing to reproduce one of those a couple of more times."