Dan Skelton has just missed out on the British title to Irish trainer Willie Mullins for the second year running and is bidding to go one better this season.

“I’m chuffed to bits. Harry gave her a great ride. Hopefully Bridget doesn’t go into labour too quick,” he said.

Panic Attack is the first mare to win the big race since Happy Diva in 2019.

It was a first success in the £160,000 chase for the brothers, who had finished second with Spiritofthegames in 2020 and Protektorat the following year

Saturday’s showpiece is one of the first big races of the British jumps season, which concludes at the end of April.

The action went ahead at Cheltenham after the course passed a morning inspection, following heavy rain in the previous 24 hours as Storm Claudia hit the UK.

Racing took place on Friday, the opening day of the three-day meeting, but 35mm of rain fell throughout the day, with the going changed to heavy, soft in places.

The bend turning into the home straight was reconfigured to avoid unraceable, waterlogged areas and the penultimate fence on the chase course will be bypassed.

Racing at Uttoxeter was also given the go-ahead although the meeting at Irish track Navan was called off, with races rescheduled for Monday.