Panic Attack delivered a milestone victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, boosting Dan Skelton’s ambitions of finally capturing the trainers’ championship. The nine-year-old mare produced a brilliant late surge to secure a four-length win, becoming Skelton’s first ever winner of the historic handicap chase and adding significant momentum to his title campaign.
In a competitive field where nearly all 12 runners remained in contention approaching the final stages, it was Panic Attack who found an extra gear after the last fence. Despite jumping the final obstacle just behind the strong favourite Vicenzo, she showed superior pace on the run-in to pull clear and claim the £91,000 winner’s prize. The result pushed Skelton’s seasonal earnings close to £1.2m, reinforcing his position at the top of the trainers’ standings.
Skelton’s nearest challenger, Olly Murphy, remains well adrift at this stage, holding less than half of Skelton’s total. With the season entering a period where Skelton traditionally performs strongly, the gap is expected to widen in the coming months. However, the looming challenge of Willie Mullins at the major spring festivals continues to hang over the title race, as the Irish champion’s powerful team tends to dominate Cheltenham and Aintree in March and April.
Skelton hailed Panic Attack for her toughness and resilience, emphasising how meaningful the win was for his team. He acknowledged her fragility in training, crediting the collective effort of stable staff, vets and physios for keeping her sound and ready to perform at the highest level. The trainer also noted that his yard appears to be hitting peak form, suggesting that recent weeks have shown clear signs of improvement across the string.
Day two of Cheltenham’s November Meeting also brought success for another talented mare, July Flower, who took the Grade Two Arkle Trial Novice Chase. Her victory revived comparisons with Put The Kettle On, a former star who won the same race before capturing major festival honours. July Flower’s connections were quick to point out her contrasting temperament but equally impressive ability, and praised jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, who has stepped into the stable’s top riding role with confidence and hunger.
With Panic Attack’s landmark success and his team finding top gear, Skelton’s pursuit of a first trainers’ championship has taken a decisive step forward.
