Panic Attack’s Gold Cup Victory At Cheltenham A Boost For Skelton’s Title Hopes

Panic Attack, a nine-year-old mare fixed a caller lease of life by a move to nan Dan Skelton yard, gave her caller stable’s pursuit of a first triumph successful nan National Hunt trainers’ title a important boost pinch a 6-1 occurrence successful nan Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Skelton was nan first trainer to walk £1m successful prize money aft a triumph successful nan characteristic arena connected Friday’s paper and he picked up some nan £91,000 first prize for Panic Attack’s four-length conclusion of Vicenzo, nan favourite, and a further £17,000 for Hoe Joly Smoke’s third-place finish.

“That [the title] is simply a agelong measurement disconnected but it’s reasonably evident that we’ve sewage nan champion squad we’ve ever had,” said Skelton, who was celebrating his first occurrence successful nan first large handicap pursuit of nan season. “But there’s nary constituent knocking connected nan door, they’ve sewage to support going done it.

“The horses of yesteryear were superb and they sewage done plentifulness of doors, but erstwhile you’ve sewage a bigger team, it conscionable feels easier.”

Skelton is simply a 2-5 chance pinch Paddy Power to declare a first title success, having been edged retired successful nan last weeks of nan play by Willie Mullins successful each of nan past 2 campaigns. Mullins is 7-4 for a 3rd consecutive occurrence while Paul Nicholls, who needs 1 much title to adjacent Martin Pipe’s all-time grounds of 15, is simply a 16-1 chance.

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