In a race defined by endurance, temperament and timing, panic attack is being discussed for reasons that go beyond a single Saturday start. Panic Attack, the mare at the center of the Grand National conversation, is now within reach of a record that has stood for 75 years. Trainer Dan Skelton believes she has the qualities needed to do what no mare has done since 1951, while the data around recent Nationals shows just how rare that achievement would be.
Why the record matters now
The immediate reason this matters is simple: Panic Attack is among the leading contenders for the race at Aintree, and Skelton has said she is capable of handling the challenge. The historical barrier is stark. Nickel Coin remains the last mare to win the Grand National, and that was in 1951. Since then, mares have appeared only sporadically in the race, with RaceiQ data showing that in the 12 Grand Nationals since 2013 there have been 461 runners and just 11 mares.
That makes Panic Attack more than a contender; it makes her part of a very narrow statistical group. Her profile is strengthened by recent form. She finished third in last month’s Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but had won her previous three races, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury two weeks apart. In a race where stamina and composure are central, that sequence gives her case real weight.
What lies beneath Panic Attack’s rise
The deeper story is not only about one horse, but about what it takes for a mare to break through in a race where history has been stacked against them. Skelton has pointed to temperament, jumping ability, ground conditions and the demands of the marathon trip as the essential ingredients. He says Panic Attack has “all the qualities” needed, adding that she handles the occasion beforehand and appears suited to the long test of the four-mile 2f race.
That assessment matters because the National is not won on reputation alone. The 12-year sample cited in RaceiQ’s figures shows how limited the mare presence has been, and how few have made it to the finish. Seven of those 11 mares completed the race, while one fell, one was pulled up and two unseated their rider. Against that backdrop, even a strong contender like Panic Attack must clear both the sporting and historical odds.
Skelton’s confidence is also shaped by the way the horse has developed across the season. Her recent sequence suggests consistency rather than a one-off peak. In that sense, the conversation around Panic Attack is not just about whether she can run well, but whether she can sustain the sort of effort that the Grand National demands from start to finish.
Expert perspective and the weight of history
Dan Skelton, the trainer of Panic Attack, has been clear that the mare’s attributes are aligned with the race. He says she has a great temperament, jumps well and should handle both the ground and the occasion. He also believes a mare will win the race soon, and hopes this could be the year. Those remarks matter because they frame the argument from inside the stable rather than from outside speculation.
There is also a broader competitive context. Skelton is closing in on the British Trainers’ Championship for the first time and has already made history by becoming the first to cross £4m in prize money in a season. That does not guarantee anything for Panic Attack, but it does underline the strength of the stable she represents as she heads into one of the sport’s most scrutinized races.
What the data suggests for the race itself
RaceiQ’s figures point to just how selective this race has been for mares over the past decade-plus. The numbers do not rule out a breakthrough; instead, they show how exceptional it would be. In a field where 461 runners have lined up since 2013, only 11 mares have taken part. That scarcity helps explain why Panic Attack is being treated as a possible historic runner rather than just another name in the lineup.
She will be ridden by Dan’s brother Harry, adding another layer of familiarity to the bid. The race goes off at 16: 00 BST on Saturday, and the mood around the stable is said to be one of excitement rather than nerves. If Panic Attack can turn recent form and strong temperament into a clean round over the National fences, the question may no longer be whether history is resistant — but whether it has finally met its match. And if that happens, how long will it be before another mare gets the chance?
