Dan Skelton's Team Takes Flight in Thrilling Cheltenham Victory
Panic Attack, a nine-year-old mare, soared to glory at the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, leaving her rivals in her wake. Harry Skelton, Dan's son and jockey, rode his stablemate to victory, as the team celebrated their hard-won win.
The long-awaited moment arrived after 280 days off the track, with Panic Attack emerging from a strong field of contenders. Skelton had opted not to give his horse a prep run into the event, a decision that proved pivotal in securing their triumph. As they approached the final bend, last year's winner Il Ridoto and Vincenzo were locked in combat on the inside, but Panic Attack looked for fresher ground out wide.
As Skelton asked for a big leap from his mount at the last, Panic Attack responded magnificently, pulling four lengths clear of Vincenzo. The 6-1 shot proved too good for their opponents, with Hoe Joly Smoke and Conyers Hill taking minor honors.
Reflecting on the win, Dan Skelton expressed admiration for his team's dedication to getting Panic Attack ready: "The team have done an unbelievable job to get her ready." He also praised Harry Skelton's ride, stating that they had to ride Panic Attack in style. The trainer acknowledged that he had initially been nervous about not having a prep run, but was thrilled with the results.
Skelton highlighted the significance of this victory, coming after his team fell short twice before: "I've never left a racecourse more disappointed than when Spiritofthegames got beat...but now we're back on top." He went on to reveal that Panic Attack would head to Doncaster for the mares' chase over Christmas and then return to Cheltenham for the spring mares' chase, should everything proceed as planned.
The win also brought personal joy, with Harry Skelton's wife Bridget expecting their second child. The jockey shared a lighthearted moment, joking about the absence of his "aeroplane" celebration and quipping that he hoped the new addition to his family had already arrived, adding to the team's euphoria.
Panic Attack, a nine-year-old mare, soared to glory at the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, leaving her rivals in her wake. Harry Skelton, Dan's son and jockey, rode his stablemate to victory, as the team celebrated their hard-won win.
The long-awaited moment arrived after 280 days off the track, with Panic Attack emerging from a strong field of contenders. Skelton had opted not to give his horse a prep run into the event, a decision that proved pivotal in securing their triumph. As they approached the final bend, last year's winner Il Ridoto and Vincenzo were locked in combat on the inside, but Panic Attack looked for fresher ground out wide.
As Skelton asked for a big leap from his mount at the last, Panic Attack responded magnificently, pulling four lengths clear of Vincenzo. The 6-1 shot proved too good for their opponents, with Hoe Joly Smoke and Conyers Hill taking minor honors.
Reflecting on the win, Dan Skelton expressed admiration for his team's dedication to getting Panic Attack ready: "The team have done an unbelievable job to get her ready." He also praised Harry Skelton's ride, stating that they had to ride Panic Attack in style. The trainer acknowledged that he had initially been nervous about not having a prep run, but was thrilled with the results.
Skelton highlighted the significance of this victory, coming after his team fell short twice before: "I've never left a racecourse more disappointed than when Spiritofthegames got beat...but now we're back on top." He went on to reveal that Panic Attack would head to Doncaster for the mares' chase over Christmas and then return to Cheltenham for the spring mares' chase, should everything proceed as planned.
The win also brought personal joy, with Harry Skelton's wife Bridget expecting their second child. The jockey shared a lighthearted moment, joking about the absence of his "aeroplane" celebration and quipping that he hoped the new addition to his family had already arrived, adding to the team's euphoria.
i'm beyond happy for panic attack she's such a talented horse and harry skelton did an incredible job riding her!! can't wait to see what's next for them, especially with the upcoming doncaster and cheltenham races 
i was tryna get that last charizard tho its soooo hard lol anyway back 2 the racing thingy dan skeltons team must hav worked sooo hard 2 get panic attack ready they must be like a well oiled machine 
gotta cop em ASAP 
anyway cheltenham cup wot a thrilling win!! dan skeltons must be soooo proud of his team 
I'm low-key loving the Skelton squad right now! Dan's decision not to prep Panic Attack paid off big time, it was like they were born for that track 
! And Harry's ride? 
can't even. The team's dedication is giving me all the feels 
, and I'm so hyped for Panic Attack's next few runs 
Doncaster and Cheltenham, here we come 
!
i mean dan skelton's team has been on a roll lately but this is insane! 280 days off the track and they still managed to take down il ridoto and vincenzo like pros 
. and can we talk about the fact that panic attack is only 6-1 shot?? 
it's clear that this horse has some serious magic in her. i'm so hyped for what's next, don't @ me when they take home those spring mares' chase trophies 
Harry Skelton did an amazing job on Panic Attack - that mare is like a total rockstar now! 
like what about harry skelton's skills as a jockey? he's literally riding his stablemate and getting them to win, thats half the battle right there! 
. But what really gets me is how his team worked together to get Panic Attack ready for this win - they're like the ultimate underdog story 
. I mean don't get me wrong, I love a good victory lap, but this one feels like a true celebration 
.
now let's see what's next for this talented stable... maybe we'll see panic attack flying high again soon? 
cant wait 2 see panic attack fly again @ cheltenham
Now I'm curious to see how she does at Doncaster over Christmas... maybe we'll get to see some thrilling racing action again soon 
️, can u imagine him jumping up and down with his wife?!