Dan Skelton has simply missed out on the British title to Irish coach Willie Mullins for the second yr operating and is bidding to go one higher this season.

“I am satisfied to bits. Harry gave her an amazing experience. Hopefully Bridget does not go into labour too fast,” he stated.

Panic Assault is the primary mare to win the massive race since Glad Diva in 2019.

It was a primary success within the £160,000 chase for the brothers, who had completed second with Spiritofthegames in 2020 and Protektorat the next yr

Saturday’s showpiece is among the first massive races of the British jumps season, which concludes on the finish of April.

The motion went forward at Cheltenham after the course handed a morning inspection, following heavy rain within the earlier 24 hours as Storm Claudia hit the UK.

Racing passed off on Friday, the opening day of the three-day assembly, however 35mm of rain fell all through the day, with the going modified to heavy, gentle in locations.

The bend turning into the house straight was reconfigured to keep away from unraceable, waterlogged areas and the penultimate fence on the chase course will probably be bypassed.

Racing at Uttoxeter was additionally given the go-ahead though the assembly at Irish observe Navan was referred to as off, with races rescheduled for Monday.