Panic Attack became the first horse since Celestial Gold in 2004 to complete the Paddy Power-Coral Gold Cup double with a commanding display at Newbury on Saturday, defying a quick turnaround and unproven stamina to land the £250,000 feature in style.

The nine-year-old mare, sent off at 16/1, was returning just 14 days after her triumph in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and connections took a calculated gamble by stepping her up from two and a half miles to three miles two furlongs for the first time. It proved inspired.

Ridden by conditional jockey Tristan Durrell, who claimed 5lb to reduce the mare's 4lb penalty to just 1lb above her Cheltenham weight, Panic Attack travelled sweetly throughout the contest. She moved ominously well approaching the business end of the race, produced a bold leap at the last, and powered clear to score by six and a half lengths from Three Card Brag, with The Changing Man a further length back in third.

The victory represented the biggest success of Durrell's fledgling career and came on a day when trainer Dan Skelton needed a lift, with stable star The New Lion having fallen earlier in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Speaking from Newcastle, Skelton was effusive in his praise, describing the mare as "brilliant, absolutely fantastic and a credit to herself".

The Skelton stable had agonised over whether to run, initially considering the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase at Doncaster as a safer alternative. But the nine-year-old's wellbeing at home and the claim available from Durrell—with Harry Skelton committed to Newcastle—ultimately swung the decision.

Owner Bryan Drew summed up the occasion neatly: "Days like today are the reason that owners are in the sport", as he collected another major Saturday prize following his mare's Cheltenham heroics.

The performance dispelled any doubts about Panic Attack's ability to last the extended trip and caps a remarkable month for the Lodge Hill operation, who continue to fire in winners across their powerful string.