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 1991 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ALDINO Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood Mr A Boyd-Rochfort 15/2
2 STAR'S DELIGHT Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Mr F Barr 9/1
3 ANOTHER CORAL Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Mr M R Deeley 6/1
4 TOM CAXTON Carl Llewellyn J S King Mr Mark O'Connor 100/1
5 SAWDUST JACK Dean Gallagher Mick Easterby Mr S H J Brewer 9/1
6 NEW HALEN E Tierney A P James Mrs Sally Siviter 10/1
7 THAR-AN-BHARR Robbie Supple John Upson Mr John Upson 16/1
8 TRESIDDER Peter Niven Mick Easterby Mr S H J Brewer 6/1
9 TORANFIELD Conor O'Dwyer F Lennon Mr F Lennon 6/1
10 NOS NA GAOITHE Lorcan Wyer M H Easterby Mr Paul Green 11/2
11 SILVER CANNON A Tory R Voorspuy Donny Racing 250/1
12 EBONY STAR Charlie Swan Jim Dreaper (Ire) Mrs P J Conway 9/2 fav

Won by 3 1/2 lengths and 4 lengths

 Over round 125%

The 1991 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 12th March 1991