Paddy Power Gold Cup
Cheltenham 14:20
Grade 3 Handicap Chase,
£150,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 4f 44y, Class 1  
Saturday 15th November 2025

BetPlay

1 Panic Attack 6/1
2 Vincenzo 100/30F
3 Hoe Joly Smoke 9/1
12 ran NR: Issar d'Airy, Jagwar, Riskintheground
Distances: 4l, 2¼l, ½l Time: 5m 14.87s (slow by 13.87s)

Panic Attack became the latest illustration of Dan Skelton’s knack for setting one up perfectly for the big day, surging clear up the Cheltenham hill to win in commanding fashion.

Off for 280 days, the nine-year-old was Harry Skelton’s pick of the stable’s trio, with Hoe Joly Smoke keeping on stoutly for third and Riskintheground a late absentee.

Swinging for home on the subtly reworked course, last year’s winner Il Ridoto held the rail with Vincenzo for company, while several — Panic Attack among them — drifted wider in search of cleaner ground.

This renewal was run in memory of Edward O’Grady, the last Irish trainer to take the prize back in 2009 with Tranquil Sea, and Paul Nolan’s Conyers Hill briefly threatened to echo that effort before fading up the climb.

Skelton sent out the distress signal for a bold leap at the last, and Panic Attack responded, edging ahead before the 6-1 shot asserted up the run-in to finish four lengths clear of the 100-30 favourite Vincenzo, followed by Hoe Joly Smoke and Conyers Hill filling the places.

“When she couldn’t make the Plate last year I thought this would be the race for her and then I was umming and ahhing over whether we got a prep run into her and I’m glad we didn’t in the end,” said the trainer.

“My eye was actually drawn to Hoe Joly Smoke turning in because he was getting a dream run before missing the last, but Panic Attack was absolutely brilliant.

“We had to ride her in there a bit today so it was a bit new to her, but I’m chuffed to bits and Harry gave her a great ride.

“The team have done an unbelievable job to get her ready. We didn’t have a run coming into this which left me nervous, but I knew there was a bit left in her mark.

“I’ve got her late in her career but she’s a brilliant mare.

“We’ve been second in this race a couple of times and I’ve never left a racecourse more disappointed than when Spiritofthegames got beat as his owner was one of our biggest supporters.”

As for what lies ahead, he added: “She won’t come back in December and I’ve a couple of ideas.

“I think she is most likely to go to Doncaster for the mares’ chase over Christmas and then if all goes to plan come back here for the mares’ chase in the spring.”

Panic Attack’s success also brought back Harry Skelton’s signature ‘aeroplane’ celebration — a timely moment on a weekend where the family’s focus is also firmly at home.

“Bridget is due today and I don’t know what is happening. I hope everything is OK and maybe that has put her into labour who knows, hopefully they are all good,” the jockey said.

“Everyone has been moaning to me and asking where the celebration has been so I thought I best give them something.”

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
£150,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 44y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Panic Attack 9 11-1 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 6/1
2 4 Vincenzo 7 11-3 Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston 100/30F
3 2¼ Hoe Joly Smoke 7 10-11 Dan Skelton Kielan Woods 9/1
4 ½ Conyers Hill 7 11-1 Paul Nolan Sean O'Keeffe 14/1
5 nk Bad 6 11-11 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 18/1
6 1¼ Hunter Legend 8 10-9 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 13/2
7 3½ The Other Mozzie 6 11-11 Gavin Cromwell Eoin Staples 22/1
8 4¼ Il Ridoto 8 11-8 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 8/1
9 18 Theatre Native 7 11-1 Henry De Bromhead Sean Bowen 12/1
PU Es Perfecto 10 11-0 Alan King Tom Bellamy 16/1
PU Thecompanysergeant 8 11-10 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 14/1
PU Coming Up Easy 7 11-8 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 13/2
NR 1 Jagwar 6 12-0 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero NON RUNNER
NR 5 Riskintheground 8 11-8 Dan Skelton NON RUNNER
NR 15 Issar d'Airy 7 10-7 Gary & Josh Moore NON RUNNER

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