Panic Attack has gone from useful handicapper to one of the most dependable names of the jumps season, and she has done it without fuss.
No hype. No early Festival push. Just a steady run of strong performances that now force a serious question as March approaches.
She is a 10-year-old mare, trained by Dan Skelton, who keeps winning, keeps jumping well, and keeps finding improvement at an age when many chasers are already on the slide.
The debate is no longer about whether she belongs at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. It is about which race gives her the best chance of turning form into silverware.
Her recent run of form would look good on any page. A win in the November Gold Cup at Cheltenham. A follow-up in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury just weeks later.
Then, in mid-January, a demolition job in a mares’ chase at the same track, stretching clear by 14 lengths without ever being asked a hard question.
Those wins tell a clear story. She stays well in strong races. She handles pressure. She jumps cleanly at speed. And crucially, she does it on big tracks, not just around quiet circuits with limited opposition.
A Campaign Built With Purpose
This season has not happened by accident. Dan Skelton has earned a strong reputation for building horses gradually, especially chasers who start the winter in handicaps and finish it mixing with the best.
The November Gold Cup win showed she could cope with Cheltenham’s demands. It is a track that exposes poor jumpers and empty stamina, yet she travelled smoothly and finished her race off strongly. That alone put her on many shortlists.
The Coral Gold Cup added another layer. It came over a longer trip, in a deeper field, with more weight and more expectation.
She passed every test. Winning both races in the same season was notable enough. Doing it as a mare made it stand out even more.
Harry Skelton’s role cannot be ignored. He rides Panic Attack with confidence but without rush.
At Newbury in January, he allowed her to bowl along in her own rhythm, asked her to meet her fences, and let her use her stride. Once the race turned serious, the others had no response.
For fans, that consistency matters. People remember combinations that work. They remember trainers and riders who place their horses wisely.
Panic Attack has become one of those horses that supporters follow from race to race, rather than just backing once and forgetting.
Why This Season Feels Different
The January mares’ chase at Newbury looked straightforward on paper. Small field. Short price. Yet it served a useful purpose in demonstrating just how the mare can dominate when given the chance.
That matters because it showed she can do more than grind out handicaps. She can control a race, travel strongly, and can put distance between herself and other good mares without being asked for a full effort.
So where should she go at Cheltenham?
The Ryanair Chase Temptation
The Ryanair Chase sits in the middle ground of the Festival programme. Run over roughly two and a half miles, it attracts high-class chasers who are not quite Gold Cup types but are still top-level performers.
For a horse like Panic Attack, the trip makes sense. Her stamina is proven, and her jumping has been sharp all season. On paper, she fits.
The problem is the opposition.
Likely runners include hardened Grade 1 horses with serious pace and Festival experience. Horses like Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior, and Jango Baie.
These are not forgiving rivals. They travel fast, jump aggressively, and punish even small errors.
At odds around 22/1, Panic Attack would arrive respected but not feared. That is often a tricky position.
She would need to improve again, and then improve once more, just to get close. One mistake at speed in that race can end any chance.
For those who enjoy the bold call, the Ryanair has appeal. A mare stepping into open company, taking on the best, and landing a famous prize. It is a story that racing fans love.
But betting is not about stories alone.
The Case for the Mares’ Chase
The Mares’ Chase exists for a reason. It allows high-class mares to compete on fairer terms, rather than repeatedly meeting geldings and horses with higher ratings and deeper experience.
In this race, Panic Attack looks much closer to the centre of the market. Around 8/1, she would be expected to play a leading role rather than chase shadows.
Her rivals look solid but manageable. Good mares, yes, but none carrying the same blend of recent form, stamina, and jumping consistency.
This option also suits her profile. She has proven stamina over longer trips, which gives her an edge if the race becomes demanding.
She has Festival-winning form at Cheltenham this season. And she has connections who value placing horses correctly rather than chasing headlines.
For newer fans, this is an important lesson. The right race often matters more than the biggest race.
So Is She the Festival Sure Thing?
Calling any horse a banker at Cheltenham is risky. The Festival tests everything. Nerves. Jumping. Ground. Luck. One mistake can undo months of work.
But if Panic Attack is to win at Cheltenham, the Mares’ Chase looks the clearest path.
It suits her strengths. It limits her risks. And it gives her the best chance to turn a fine season into something lasting.
The Ryanair would be brave. The Mares’ Chase is smart.
And in the long run, smart choices are usually the ones that pay.
BETFRED
