Cheltenham Festival – Title leader Brian Hughes has sole ride on Panic Attack

With no Yorkshire-trained runners, Hughes has picked up the spare ride on Panic Attack in the Grade One Weatherby’s Champion Bumper.

Trained by David Pipe, the horse – previously trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins – has a lofty reputation after being purchased by leading owner Bryan Drew.

And while Pipe, who has previously won this race with Moon Racer, also saddles the more fancied Israel Drew – who will be ridden by stable jockey Tom Scudamore – Panic Attack receives significant weight allowances as a four-year-old filly. Further proof is provided by the decision of North Yorkshire-based Hughes, who is on the brink of a first jockeys’ championship, to travel to Cheltenham for one ride rather than try to pursue opportunities at Huntingdon.

Hughes, who has three Festival wins to his name, wrote on his Vbet-sponsored blog: “I’m really looking forward to riding Panic Attack.

“It’s always nice to ride a horse at the Festival, and even more exciting to ride a horse with decent claims.

“I was impressed with her on her debut at Market Rasen in January when she easily won a Listed soft ground Bumper.

“Whether or not the form amounts to much, only time will tell, but you can do no more than win by 10 lengths.

“She’s clearly an interesting horse and, as a four-year-old filly, she gets a lot of weight from the rest of the field, which is a big help.”

There’s added Northern interest when jockey Callum Bewley, who served his racing apprenticeship with trainers Sue and Harvey Smith, rides the outsider Aye Right in the Grade One RSA Chase for Scottish trianer Harriet Graham. This three mile race – which has produced many future Gold Cup winners – looks tailor-made for the Harry Cobden-ridden and Colin Tizzard-trained Copperhead who was an impressive winner at Ascot last month.

Paisley Park, trained by Emma Lavelle will face 14 opponents in pursuit of his second successive Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle tomorrow, including Donna’s Diamond for Billingham trainer Chris Grant and jockey Tommy Dowson. For Ireland, Gordon Elliott’s multiple Grade One-winning mare Apple’s Jade and well-touted outsider Ronald Pump run.