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 1989 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PUKKA MAJOR Peter Scudamore Tim Thomson Jones Mrs Solna Jones 4/1 jt fav
2 CLAY HILL Richard Rowe Josh Gifford Mr Geoff Hubbard 20/1
3 IDA'S DELIGHT P Dennis J I A Charlton Mr J I A Charlton 12/1
4 HYPNOSIS Graham Bradley David Elsworth Mr David Elsworth 10/1
5 PANTECHNICON W Irvine A Barrow Mrs P Barrow 16/1
6 HARLEY STREET MAN Hywel Davies C F C Jackson Mr J P Powis 50/1
7 TARN A Adams Nick Gaselee Simon Harrap 12/1
8 HIZ Carl Llewellyn Tim Forster Mrs G C McFerran 33/1
9 MR KEY Simon Sherwood David Murray-Smith John P McManus 4/1 jt fav
10 WARNER FOR LEISURE Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs Terry Warner Sports 25/1
11 TACTICO R J Beggan W D Fairgrieve Ian Dalgleish 33/1
12 KNOCKERRA Conor O'Dwyer Geoff Hubbard Mr Geoof Hubbard 100/1
13 LONG ENGAGEMENT Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Mrs A J Davies 9/1
14 MEIKLEOUR Mark Dwyer Jimmy Fitzgerald Mrs A C Leggat 8/1
15 BONALMA T J Taaffe Arthur Moore Mr C Hanbury 11/1
16 YANK BROWN Dermot Browne Jimmy Fitzgerald Mr C C Longstaff 12/1
17 OUTLAW D Tegg J A C Edwards Mr H D Wite 12/1

Won by 2 lengths and 1/2 length

 Over round 133%

The 1989 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 14th March 1989