‘I’ve had this race in mind for a long time’- Dan Skelton goes on the attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup

There has been plenty of evidence since he started training that when Dan Skelton says he has a long-term plan for a horse it is well worth paying attention.

Britain’s leading trainer has three horses in this year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup, but only one has been at the forefront of Skelton’s mind for months – Panic Attack.

Owned by Bryan Drew, Panic Attack was successful on her only start over fences for Skelton at Windsor in January and will be attempting to emulate Happy Diva, the last mare to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup back in 2019. She is the choice of stable jockey Harry Skelton for good measure.

Skelton said: “I’ve had this race in mind for Panic Attack for a long time. She hasn’t had a prep run, but I don’t feel like that’s too big a negative as she’s had an away day. 

“It feels like she’s got a bit of scope left in her handicap mark and I’d say she’ll run really well.”

Skelton is yet to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but his hand is strengthened by Hoe Joly Smoke and Riskintheground also lining up in this year’s contest.

“We’ve just got to watch the ground for Riskintheground as all his best form is on slightly better,” the trainer said. “He won a Grade 2 at the track in the spring and his form at middle distances has been consistent. He also comes into the race in very good form, having won an intermediate chase last time when he was wrong at the weights. 

“Hoe Joly Smoke didn’t stay three miles two last time and the drop back in trip is definitely a positive. I don’t think the ground is an issue, either.”

What they say

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of The Other Mozzie and Thecompanysergeant
Thecompanysergeant ran well here at the festival in the Plate. He didn’t stay the last day in the Kerry National and probably didn’t stay in the Galway Plate either. He should be fine on the ground, and hopefully he can run well. I’m just not sure if The Other Mozzie can stay the trip. He’ll probably be ridden cold to try and get it, and we’ll see.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Bad
He’s in great order. We’ve got the ground to contend with. I don’t know if he dislikes it. He’s come from France so he’s probably going to handle it, but at the same time he’s got a few questions to answer.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Coming Up Easy and Theatre Native
You would start to have a concern about the ground for Coming Up Easy, but he’s in good form. We’ll see what the ground is like on the day. Theatre Native travelled over well. She ran a nice race at Limerick on her comeback run. She might prefer the ground a bit nicer, but I think she should be okay on it.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Vincenzo
This has been his target for a while. We’ll find out where we are with him. He was more progressive than we could have imagined last season. I don’t think the ground will bother him.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Conyers Hill
He finished second at Limerick on his first run back, and hopefully he’ll come on a bit from that. The more rain, the better for him.  

Alan King, trainer of Es Perfecto
He missed a couple of seasons due to injury so he’s a very lightly raced ten-year-old. He was very progressive last season. It was a good run at Sandown, and so was his run at Cheltenham, where he just got run out of the places in the last 100 yards, and that was a good race. This has been his target since last season.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Hunter Legend
It’s a huge step up in class for him. He’s quite a small horse who’ll appreciate a lighter weight, even if Charlie Deutsch doesn’t. The rain is helpful to his chances.

Gary Moore, trainer of Issar D’Airy
He’s ground dependent, and wouldn’t want it any worse than good to soft. We might not run him if the conditions are unsuitable. He’s a big price, but has come on a lot for his run at Ascot the other day and has performed well at Cheltenham over a shorter trip before.

Read more Saturday previews:

‘He has so much raw ability’ – Supreme star Kopek Des Bordes headlines a Navan undercard you can’t afford to miss    

Three Paddy Power Gold Cups in a row? Write Paul Nicholls off at your peril 

Could ‘electric’ July Flower be on the road to emulating Put The Kettle On for De Bromhead team? 

A potential Triumph hope and a tentative 50-1 tip – four interesting horses on the Cheltenham undercard  

‘He handles plenty of juice and the yard is in scintillating form’ – Ollie Signy joins the panel ahead of Paddy Power Gold Cup 

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