National fancy Panic Attack looking to end season on a high

Panic Attack makes a quick return to action in the Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase as she bids for redemption following an early Grand National exit.

The Dan Skelton-trained mare won the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Coral Gold Cup and a Listed mares’ chase to earn her place in the world’s greatest steeplechase.

However, after being hampered at the second fence she fell at the next but owner Bryan Drew is determined to see her end her season on a high.

Drew said: “I want to finish the season on a positive with her. She had a bit of a fright at Aintree when Quai De Bourbon fell in front of her. She thought ‘what the hell is going to be behind the next fence’ and took off a mile too early, landed with her back legs on it and tipped up unfortunately.

“She’s schooled really well since and looks none the worse but I want her to end on a high really so she can come back next season with confidence and secondly you’ve got to be worried about the (quick) ground at Sandown.

“There’s only four declared so on paper she looks the best horse in the race. While we take nothing for granted, hopefully she can have a good spin around and come home in first as a bonus and then she can end the season on a high.”

Gordon Elliott sends Shecouldbeanything over from Ireland with Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s Apple Away and Nicky Richards’ Ruby Island completing the field of four.

Apple Away could book herself a trip to France should she run a respectable race.

Russell told Old Gold Racing: “If she runs a nice race, our next aim would be the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in mid-May. While it’s known as a hurdle race, it’s run over brush fences, so it’s not too far away from our chase races.

“It’s a very valuable race in France and it’s normally run on softer ground, so we felt that after she’d had a bit of a break in the winter and recovered from an injury, it would be a nice race to aim at after Perth.”

No Drama This End is another bidding to end the season in positive fashion in the British EBF Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old disappointed at Cheltenham and was pulled up in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle when sent off favourite.

Max McNeill, who owns No Drama This End in partnership with Chris and Giles Barber, said: “I think that given our last run at Cheltenham we felt we didn’t want to go to Punchestown and take all the Irish on in their backyard. That would be foolhardy. Paul decided let’s have a look at Perth, the ground looks ideal. That’s the primary reason. It’s no walkover by any stretch.

“If he runs well then we can look forward to going chasing next season, to quote the old cliche ‘that’s what he’s bred for’.”

No Drama This End was pencilled in to run in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree but a mishap saw him withdrawn from the race.

McNeill added: “He was last off the lorry and banged his head and had a bloody nose but was back cantering the next day. Paul was a bit nervous about the horse, he was a bit nervous about the ground. He just wasn’t his normal bullish self.

“But he did a fantastic piece of work on Monday morning and Paul couldn’t be happier with him so the signs are a lot more positive. I hope I’m not tempting fate but the signs from Ditcheat are a lot more positive and I’ll be cautiously optimistic.

“He’s given us a great season, win lose or draw. Two Grade Twos and a Grade One, you can’t take that away from him and if he runs well it will be a nice way to finish the season.”

Elliott will be double handed with Fairyhouse Listed winner Sept Etoiles and Kazansky and Skelton is represented by Tormund Giantsbane.