By Peter Moore at Cheltenham Saturday 15th November 2025

Cheltenham Racecourse staged the first major race of the Jump season, Super Saturday at The November Meeting, with the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase. This year’s race was run in memory of Edward O’Grady, the late Irish trainer who saddled the winner of this race in 2009 with Tranquil Sea.

It turned out to be another success for the all-conquering Skelton’s as Panic Attack became the third mare to prevail in the two and a half mile contest this century.

Having her first run since January, the nine-year-old moved ahead at the final fence to power home to score by four lengths with her stable companion Hoe Joly Smoke back in third.

Trainer Dan Skelton, winning his first Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, said: “It’s fairly obvious to all and sundry that we’ve got the best team we’ve ever had.

“We’ve been second in this race a couple of times – I remember Spiritofthegames (second in 2020), I have never left a racecourse more disappointed because his owner Norman Lake was one of our first supporters and he sadly died a couple of years ago. It would have been great to win a race like this for him.

“The mare is very, very tough. She is a great advertisement for our whole team – vets, physios and the staff that look after her on a day-to-day basis. She has been a fragile horse and had to miss the end of last year.

“She has done everything we’ve asked of her in training and not missed a beat so fair play to her – she is a credit to herself. At nine years old I wouldn’t say she’s getting better but she’s certainly not deteriorating and that was a fair effort today.

“When she couldn’t make the Plate at The Festival, I thought the Paddy Power is the race for her. It was then umming and arring whether we go a prep run into her. That was my only doubt coming into today that she hadn’t had one, but she didn’t need it in the end which was great.”

The trainer went on to reveal the Listed Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase as a future target, with the long-term aim being the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at The Festival.

Winning jockey Harry Skelton said: “That was a brilliant and a great training performance. I was just a little bit worried beforehand that she hadn’t had a run, but Dan has done a great job and she was prepared ready for today.

“She is a tough mare and experienced. Racing is in a great place – listen to this. These fans coming out to watch good racing. I am just very humble to be part of it and doing what I want.

“Bridget’s (wife) due date is today, so I don’t know if she’s started having the baby yet, but we better go and see! I am sure she’ll be watching at home with Rory – they make me prouder than anything.”

Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead was on target in the two-mile Paddy Power Arkle Trial Novices’ Chase when July Flower justified 6-5 Favouritism with a length and a half defeat of Be Aware.

The six-year-old was dropping down in trip. Leading at the last the mare kept on to win by one and a half lengths.

The opening race on the card, the Grade Two JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle went to One Horse Town, who made virtually all under Paul O’Brien to win by three and three quarter lengths.

Local trainer Martin Keighley saddled Hung Jury to victory in the amateur jockey’s handicap chase, run over 3m 1f, with James King in the plate.

The ten-year-old sprung a surprise at the odds of 22-1, but proved to be a welcome surprise for members of the Martin Keighley Racing Club, who were well represented in the winner’s enclosure.

Another racing club who was also celebrating, was the Richard Johnson racing Club after Kikijo kept on well to win nicely in the Class 2 handicap hurdle over 2m 7f with Sean Houlihan in the saddle for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White.

Lavender Hill Mob sprung another surprise in the afternoon after taking the 2m 5f handicap hurdle. The James Owen trained four-year-old is better known for his exploits on the flat, Going up in trip and plenty of cut in the ground was the key for Lavender Hill Mob to pull clear 3 out and go on and win by four and three quarter lengths at 33-1 from the 25-1 shot Give Him A Chance.