Panic Attack calmed Dan Skelton’s nerves with a fantastic success in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury.
After The New Lion’s fall in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, spirits may have been low among the team, but Skelton had another arrow to shoot further south when Tristan Durrell made the ride on the mare with one of the biggest handicaps of the season.
Panic Attack quickly returned to action after victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham just over a fortnight ago, also making the step up to the three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time as a 16-1 chance.
In a field of 24 she rewarded such a daring campaign, traveling and jumping happily under Durrell and staying on top of all to claim a six and a half length victory from Three Card Brag with The Changing Man in third.
The winning trainer said: “He gave her a brilliant ride, fair play to Tristan, we trusted him.
“He has improved so much as a rider, like no other rider I have ridden. It comes down to confidence and Harry (Skelton) giving him the right cues and us filling him with confidence.
“She took off at the end, she was brilliant. She probably jumped the last one so big to give herself a lot of air, but it’s a credit to herself to do that just 14 days later, even as a mare.”
The last horse to complete the major race double was the Martin Pipe-trained Celestial Gold in 2004.
Skelton added: “Celestial Gold did it, but I was lying in bed the other day thinking he was the only one doing it. Now there’s two!”
“I said to Bryan (Drew, owner) ‘look, she’s nine now, she’s doing a bit and when they’re fit and well you should run them’.
“She is clearly in good shape and Harry told her to keep going at the beginning of this week.”
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