No Panic for Bryan Drew and his ‘galloping machine’

If the Randox Grand National has always been behind the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the aspirations of owner Bryan Drew, now he cannot help but dream of Aintree and its famous spruce with his “galloping machine” Panic Attack.

One of the stars of Dan Skelton’s assault on the trainers’ championship, the 10-year-old has already become the first horse to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup/Coral Gold Cup double since Celestial Gold this season.

After holding her own when third to Dinoblue at the Cheltenham Festival, she could now rubber-stamp a first title for the Lodge Hill team if landing the £500,000 first-prize in Liverpool.

Drew said: “I can’t wait to see her tackle those fences at Aintree. I think she’s tailor-made for the National and I think she’ll enjoy herself.

“Please God she gets a nice, trouble-free run through the first six or eight fences and then she can settle into a bit of rhythm. But I think she’ll love it and she is a galloping machine. I’d like to think that she could be in the shake-up.

“Dinoblue had a bit more kick than her at Cheltenham, but she was travelling alongside her classy as anything the other day and I think just got done for speed. I mean Dinoblue is a very, very good mare isn’t she and that was her perfect trip.

“She showed there she definitely wants a trip these days and she relished three miles at Newbury in the Coral Gold Cup. You have to remember she’s 10 now and she’s become a bit of a galloping machine rather than a speedster.”

For Drew and Panic Attack it has been a six-year journey to the top.

Bought after dazzling for Willie Mullins in a Market Rasen bumper in 2020, the formative years of Panic Attack’s time in Drew’s silks would be spent with David Pipe, where injury would prove a major hindrance in fulfilling the promise suggested around the tight turns of Lincolnshire.

However, rejuvenated by a switch to Skelton, she has proved a revelation this term, with a rapid rise through the ranks setting up a shot at the ultimate test of a racehorse’s endurance.

Drew explained: “She’s been on a remarkable run since joining Dan’s, it’s been remarkable. She’s had a good, clean run without any injury niggles and clearly likes the regime.

“I bought her after she won the bumper for Willie Mullins at Market Rasen and looked spectacular.

“It’s great to see a horse who you could think is in the twilight of her career having such a good time, she was very good at Cheltenham and then magnificent twice at Newbury before just being beat by the better horse on the day at the Festival.”

For Drew it will be just a second runner in the world’s most famous steeplechase and he is happy to admit it is normally Prestbury Park in March that garners the majority of his attention.

However, after Bravemansgame whetted the appetite when cutting a bold sight over the famous fences, he is now excited to see the equally sure-footed Panic Attack in her own mission on Merseyside.

“I’m not as hung up on the National as a lot of people,” Drew explained. “I think it’s a great race and it’s clearly got a lot of heritage – it’s the most famous steeplechase there is. I’ve always watched it and enjoyed it, but my dream race to win would be the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“I’ve only ever had one runner in the Grand National before, when Bravemansgame ran in it last year. He jumped brilliantly, he just didn’t see out the trip.

“I’m think now though I have a runner that is tailor-made for the National. We know she’s a great jumper, a great traveller and she’ll gallop all day so I think if she gets in on 10st 5lb she could be a lively contender.”