Leading Champion Bumper fancy Panic Attack joins Pipe

Filly impressed in Market Rasen debut for Willie Mullins.

Owner Bryan Drew has privately bought smart Market Rasen bumper winner Panic Attack, who has left Willie Mullins and is now in training with David Pipe.

The Canford Cliffs filly bolted up by 10 lengths in Lincolnshire, despite making her debut in Listed company.

Panic Attack is around the 8-1 second-favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, behind Appreciate It, who is trained by her former handler.

“A friend of mine in Ireland rang me to let me know she was for sale and that started the dialogue with Willie and the owners (Leinster Partnership),” said Drew.

“I just liked the way she ran at Market Rasen. To take on five- and six-year-olds on debut and run like that is phenomenal. We reached an agreement with the owners and she turned up at David’s on Tuesday morning.

“To be honest it was an easy decision to give her to David. I’ve been a long-standing owner there and he has invested in his facilities and he has invested in a lot of good youngsters and most importantly he has been delivering the results.”

However, despite her prominence in the ante-post betting for Cheltenham, Drew refused to confirm that was a definite target.

He said: “We are still learning about her, to be honest. I think you would say that both the Aintree Grade Two (mares’) race and the Champion Bumper will be under consideration.

“It is a big ask to take a four-year-old to the Champion Bumper, but we will give it a lot of thought and all the doors are open to her.

“She is an exciting prospect and I can’t wait to see her in my blue and orange silks.”

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