Panic Attack in sight of huge handicap double

Paddy Power Gold Cup heroine Panic Attack features among 27 confirmations for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday, as connections consider going for a famous big-race double.

The nine-year-old hit the jackpot at Cheltenham earlier this month, but will have had just two weeks to get over those exertions if she lines up in Saturday’s historic handicap.

With the Dan Skelton yard in such good form and Tristan Durrell poised to take 3lb of the 4lb penalty off her back, her participation is now looking more than likely.

Speaking at Haydock on Saturday, Skelton said: “There are no negatives whatsoever, she looks fantastic, has come out of the race very well and technically she’ll be 3lb well-in because Tristan will ride her with Harry heading up to Newcastle to ride The New Lion.

“She’s nine, not seven, we might have to. She’s not telling me not to yet. She’ll either get the (three-and-a-quarter-mile) trip or she won’t, she’s run over three (miles) before.

“She’s not telling me not to run, everything I’ve seen says she’ll definitely stay three miles, whether she’ll stay three-two, I don’t know.”

Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey has stood his ground, as has market rival Myretown for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.

Willie Mullins has a four-strong team comprising of Blizzard Of Oz, O’Moore Park, Spanish Harlem and A Penny A Hundred. Others bolstering the Irish challenge include Three Card Brag (Gordon Elliott) and Intense Raffles (Tom Gibney).