'She must have a good chance' - Pipe keen on talented and improving Panic Attack

3.05 Newbury
MansionBet Hurdle McHurdleface Mares' Handicap Hurdle | 2m½f | 4yo+ | RTV

This time 12 months ago there was a strong suggestion that Panic Attack could be a bona fide Champion Bumper contender after a monstrous display for Willie Mullins on her debut at Market Rasen.

The Alan Swinbank mares' bumper, which was won this year by the similarly impressive Eileendover – general third favourite for the Cheltenham contest, was thought to have produced a future Grade 1 star in 2020. However, that is yet to be proven correct.

Although she disappointed at the festival for new connections, she remains extremely highly regarded and her latest course-and-distance success suggests this five-year-old could be chucked in off a mark of 124. That is especially true if in-form trainer David Pipe's views that she could still be a Graded performer come to light.

Whether she would be a contender or pretender in better races is debatable. But she certainly doesn't lack class and victory here could just be the next step up the class ladder.

Alan King: saddles Midnights' GiftCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Panic Attack gets plenty of weight from the classy Midnights' Gift, a strong traveller who should relish the long home straight. However, she is unproven on testing ground and the welter burden of 11st 12lb may bog her down. Although she looks enticing on paper, swerving her could be the best policy.

The biggest threat to Pipe's runner could be Miss Heritage, though punters should be wary that she has been beaten at evens, 5-6 and 6-4 in her last ten starts.

Saying that, she probably boasts the most consistent profile and is proven on heavy ground courtesy of a 37-length romp at Huntingdon last summer. Her jumping can go amiss, but Bryony Frost's presence in the saddle bodes well.

Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

Lucy Wadham, trainer of Miss Heritage
She ran into a decent one at Catterick when the ground was desperate last time. We're hoping this sounder surface and more galloping track will suit her better.

David Bridgwater, trainer of Dame Du Soir
She's a better chaser than hurdler but we sent her back over the smaller obstacles to get her confidence back, and she won nicely at Chepstow last time, much to our surprise. It's a valuable pot so we're giving this a go before she goes back over fences.

David Pipe, trainer of Panic Attack
She put up a good performance when winning there over Christmas. She's higher in the handicap and in a better race, but she schooled well this morning and must have a good chance of following up.

Victor Dartnall, trainer of Sweet Adare
There is not much for her over fences at the moment so we're sending her back over hurdles with a view to getting her confidence back after she fell at Cheltenham last time. She made a novicey mistake that day but has schooled well over hurdles at home since.

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of Maskada
She ran flat at Southwell before Christmas but that was no surprise as our team were not right at that time. We've turned a corner since then and she goes there with an each-way shout.

Andy Irvine, trainer of Brown Bullet
She gets in off a handy mark in this open handicap and should handle the ground unless it gets really heavy. We might be pitching a bit high but she's an improving mare and the owners were keen to have a crack.
Reporting by David Milnes

Watch live races through the Racing Post website. Log in to your bookmaker account via the bookmaker button at the top of the page and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here