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 1993 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SPACE FAIR Adrian Maguire Richard Lee Mrs R Fifield 5/1
2 SHAMANA Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Lord Northampton 13/2
3 STORM ALERT S McNeill Andy Turnell Lt-Col W Wetherly 11/4 fav
4 YOUNG POKEY Jamies Osborne Oliver Sherwood M L Oberstein 5/1
5 SETTER COUNTRY W Irvine Ron Hodges Mrs A Inshaw 11/1
6 PRIVATE AUDITION Mr Paul Murphy Ferdy Murphy Mr Geoff Hubbard 20/1
7 ACRE HILL Charlie Swan Nicky Henderson Mr Johnny Henderson 12/1
8 WHATEVER YOU LIKE Jason Kavanagh Nicky Henderson Mr A M Ennever 12/1
9 SONSIE MO P Williams Sue Bradburne Mr Timothy Hardie 66/1
10 STARS DELIGHT Graham McCourt Martin Pipe Mr F Barr 20/1
11 ALKINOR REX Mark Perrett Guy Harwood Mr M C Peraticos 12/1
12 GABISH M Hourigan J Fitch-Heyes Mr Chris Steward 200/1

Won by 2 lengths and 1 length

 Over round 118%

The 1993 Grand Annual was held on Tuesday 18th March 1993