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
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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. |
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| Grand Annual 1988 | Premier Handicap | 2 miles | ||
| Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1 | VODKATINI | Richard Rowe | Josh Gifford | Dick Richardson Horse Racing 4/1 fav |
| 2 | CLAY HILL | Mr T Grantham | Josh Gifford | Mr Geoff Hubbard 14/1 |
| 3 | MR KEY | Paul Croucher | D Murray-Smith | Mrs E McManus 12/1 |
| 4 | TOWNLEY STONE | Graham McCourt | John Webber | Mrs P Townley 20/1 |
| 5 | COTTAGE RUN | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson | Mrs M Rogers 12/1 |
| 6 | TARN | A Adams (7) | Nick Gaselee | Mr S Harrap 12/1 |
| 7 | KNOCKBRACK | S McNeill | G Ham | Mr G Holmes 33/1 |
| 8 | AKRAM | Brendan Powell | Ron Hodges | Mr S Allen 50/1 |
| 9 | SHARP SONG | P Harte (7) | Tommy Fairhurst | Mr J Latham 25/1 |
| 10 | OUTLAW | T Morgan | John Edwards | Mr H White 7/1 |
| 11 | BONALMA | Tom Taaffe | Arthur Moore (Ire) | Mr C Hanbury 11/2 |
| 12 | GARFUNKEL | Clive Cox | Philip Mitchell | P H Betts Holdings 100/1 |
| 13 | WARNER FOR LEISURE | Peter Hobbs | P Hobbs | Terry Warner Sports 11/1 |
| 14 | JOINT SOVEREIGNTY | Mark Dwyer | Jimmy Fitzgerald | Mr B Ryan 5/1 |
Won by 3/4 length and 2 1/2 lengths |
Over round 118% | |||
The 1988 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 15th March 1988 |
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