Dan Skelton's pursuit of a first trainers' championship received a significant boost on Saturday as Panic Attack, a nine-year-old mare, secured her trainer's maiden victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The 6-1 shot found a superior turn of foot after the last fence to beat favourite Vicenzo by four lengths, adding £91,000 to Skelton's seasonal total.
The success takes Skelton's prize money for the 2025-26 campaign to nearly £1.2m, giving him a substantial lead over his closest rival Olly Murphy, who has barely half that amount. However, the perennial question remains whether Skelton can maintain his advantage when Willie Mullins's powerful stable unleashes its full force at the spring festivals in March and April.
Skelton expressed his delight at winning the race for the first time, having previously finished second on occasions including with Spiritofthegames in 2020. He praised Panic Attack's toughness, describing her as a 'great advertisement' for his team, including vets, physios and day-to-day staff, given her history as a fragile horse.
The trainer also revealed he had felt his string was approaching peak form. 'It just felt like the bubbles were getting to the surface,' Skelton said, noting that he could not explain why but sensed a turning point in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the Grade Two Arkle Trial Novice Chase was won by another mare, July Flower, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe. The 6-5 favourite beat Skelton's Be Aware by a length and a half, evoking comparisons with Put The Kettle On, who won the same race in 2019 before claiming Arkle and Champion Chase victories. De Bromhead described July Flower as the 'sweetest mare' in contrast to the fiery Put The Kettle On, while praising O'Keeffe for stepping into the shoes of retired Rachael Blackmore.
