Grand Annual

 The Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race at the Festival having first been staged on 4th April 1834 over 4 miles of open country at Andoversford, near Cheltenham. Although that race was discontinued in the 1860s, it was revived in the early 1900s, although it was staged at various courses, notably Warwick, Melton Mowbray and Leicester. It was only in 1913 that it returned permanently to Cheltenham and has been a significant part of the Festival ever since. It is run over 1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards and 14 fences and is now classed as a Premier Handicap. In 2005 its name was updated to the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase in recognition of the part played by Johnny Henderson, father of legendary trainer Nicky Henderson, in forming the Racecourse Holdings Trust which secured the future of Cheltenham by purchasing the Prestbury Park venue for £240,000.
Early history:- The inaugural running of Grand Annual Chase took place on April 4 1834 at Andoversford, in the vicinity of Cheltenham when won by Fugleman owned by Mr R D’Oyley beating Conrad owned by Colonel Gilbert.
Grand Annual 1985 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 KATHIES LAD Steve Smith-Eccles Alan Jarvis Mr J Clayton 7/1
2 MIDNIGHT SONG Richard Dunwoody Tim Forster Mrs D Price 33/1
3 TORDEALBHACH Fran Berry P O'Connor Mr H Harpur-Crewe 9/1
4 LULAV Peter Scudamore David Nicholson Mr C Gaventa 40/1
5 KEVINSFORT Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald Mrs R Haggie 4/1 fav
6 KILBRITTAIN CASTLE Kevin Mooney Fulke Walwyn Mr W Whitbread 20/1
7 BLACKFEET Steve Charlton J S Wilson Mr A McInally 6/1
8 LEFRAK CITY Hywel Davies Tim Forster Mrs D Twine 8/1
9 GOLDEN FRIEND Sam Morshead Mrs Mercy Rimell Mr D Meade 12/1
10 KINGS JUG G Charles-Jones Mrs Mercy Rimell David Timothy Ltd 12/1
11 JO COLOMBO N Doughty Mrs W Sykes Mr B O'Brien 14/1
12 RIVER RHEIN A Webber J Webber Mr C Bowen-Colthurst 16/1
13 RAGAFAN John Francome John Jenkins Mr Freddie Starr 20/1
14 THE COUNTY STONE P Dever John Thorne Mrs A Taylor 20/1
15 RESTLESS SHOT Graham McCourt J Webber Mr R Richmond-Watson 25/1
16 FOGGY BUOY Jonjo O'Neill Peter Calver Lord Ronaldshay 33/1
17 WALNUT WONDER J Bryan R Hickman Mr R Hickman 40/1
18 DENNIS AUBURN R Crank R Francis Anne Duchess of Westminster 50/1
19 NUDGE NUDGE Mark Perrett Stan Mellor Mr A Birchall 50/1

Won by 4 lengths and 3/4 length

 Over round 129%

The 1985 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 12th March 1985