Panic Attack: Is Dan Skelton’s Mare Going To Off As The 2026 Grand National Favourite?
When you look through the likely runners for the Grand National, there are always a few names that stand out straight away.
Panic Attack is one of them.
On form alone, she has a strong case. When you factor in how her season has been put together, it becomes even clearer why she has been talked about as one of the leading British hopes heading into Aintree.
A Season That Has Put Her in the Spotlight
Now a ten-year-old, Panic Attack has built her reputation gradually rather than in one sudden jump.
This season has seen her step forward again. Wins in the November Gold Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse showed her ability to compete in big-field handicaps. She followed that up with another success at Newbury after the turn of the year.
Those performances were not fortunate results. They came through consistent jumping, a smooth travelling style, and the ability to keep going when others began to tire.
At Cheltenham in March, she stepped into deeper company in the Mares’ Chase and finished third behind Dinoblue and Only By Night. It was not a winning run, but it confirmed she could hold her own at that level.
A Campaign Built Around Aintree
The way she has been campaigned suggests that Aintree has been the long-term aim.
Dan Skelton has given her experience in large fields, tested her stamina over longer trips, and placed her in races that mirror the demands of the National.
Her Coral Gold Cup win over three miles and two furlongs was a key moment. It showed she could handle a tough staying test and still find enough at the finish.
Earlier in the season, there were questions about whether she would make the final cut for the race, but that is no longer an issue. She is safely in the field and set to carry a weight that looks manageable for a horse of her profile.
Owner Bryan Drew has been open about what a Grand National runner means, and it is clear this has been the target for some time.
The Numbers Behind Her Chance
Set aside the story for a moment, and her profile still stands up well.
Timeform ratings place her at the top of the weight-adjusted list for the 2026 Grand National. That reflects a consistent run of form and a series of wins over fences since joining the Skelton yard.
Her allotted weight of 10st 5lb is another positive. It puts her in a range that has been favourable for many recent winners.
She also brings a reliable record. She has completed every race, with no falls or pulled-up efforts, and her jumping tends to hold together even when the pace lifts.
In the betting, she was sitting around 14/1, but she has gained momentum in the last couple of days, shortening to as little as 8/1, just a fraction behind I Am Maximus, which plenty of fans suggesting she will go off as the Grand National favourite in 2026.
The Skelton Team
There is also the strength of the team behind her.
Dan Skelton has enjoyed a strong season, breaking long-standing prize money records and sending out winners at the highest level. His approach has been built around placing horses carefully and having them ready for the right races.
In the saddle, Harry Skelton knows Panic Attack well. His riding style, patient and controlled, should suit a race where timing often matters as much as raw ability.
That combination, trainer and jockey working closely with a horse they understand, is often an advantage in a race like this.
The Questions She Still Has to Answer
As with any Grand National runner, there are still unknowns.
History is one of them. It has been decades since a mare last won the race, with Nickel Coin in 1951 the most recent example. Magic Of Light’s second-place finish behind Tiger Roll in 2019 is the closest a mare has come in more recent times.
Panic Attack will be trying to overcome that pattern.
There is also the course itself. She has not run over the Aintree fences before, and while her jumping has been reliable elsewhere, those obstacles present a different challenge.
Distance is another factor. She has proven she stays beyond three miles, but the Grand National stretches further than that, and not every horse improves for the extra test.
A Serious Contender
Even with those questions, her overall profile is easy to follow.
She has strong handicap form, has proven she can stay, and has shown consistency across a full season. Her weight is workable, and she comes from a yard that has been operating at a high level.
When you combine those elements, she fits the mould of a realistic contender rather than a hopeful outsider.
There are always uncertainties in a race like this, and no single factor guarantees success.
But if you are looking for a mare capable of challenging the recent trends, Panic Attack looks well placed to do so.
Her season has been built step by step towards this point. If she can carry that form to Aintree, she should be competitive when it matters.
BETFRED
