Skelton Sets out National Ambition For Panic Attack
Plans are afoot for the Skelton steady success to extend into spring as both Panic Attack and Grey Dawning have headline ambitions, at Aintree and Cheltenham respectively.
Anxiety 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 two weeks, the latter of which showed her stamina over a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time.
The Randox Grand National has actually therefore entered focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to consist of a journey to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is readied 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 possibly go to Kelso en path 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 securely set on the Grand National."
Another success story for the Skelton team this term so far was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase triumph, in which he reversed the form 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 peak of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the exact same track in January rather of a previously mooted trip to Ireland for the Savills Chase.
"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was really 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," stated Skelton.
Plans are afoot for the Skelton steady success to extend into spring as both Panic Attack and Grey Dawning have headline ambitions, at Aintree and Cheltenham respectively.
Anxiety 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 two weeks, the latter of which showed her stamina over a prolonged three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time.
The Randox Grand National has actually therefore entered focus for the mare, with preparations most likely to consist of a journey to Newbury and possibly Kelso as she is readied 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 possibly go to Kelso en path 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 securely set on the Grand National."
Another success story for the Skelton team this term so far was Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase triumph, in which he reversed the form 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 peak of the National Hunt season with a run in the Cotswold Chase at the exact same track in January rather of a previously mooted trip to Ireland for the Savills Chase.
"I had the entry for him in Ireland and I was really 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," stated Skelton.