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 2004 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ST PIRRAN Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Mr C G Roach 4/1 fav
2 GROUND BALL David Casey Charlie Swan Mr John P McManus 10/1
3 REIZIGER Paddy Brennan Philip Hobbs D Jones, B Thomas 33/1
4 NO VISIBILITY Timmy Murphy Robert Alner Mr David O'Moon 14/1
5 STRONG RUN Paul Carberry Noel Meade (Ire) Mr M D McGrath 16/1
6 OLD MARSH Sam Thomas Venetia Williams Seasons & Paradise 28/1
7 KORAKOR David Dennis Ian Williams Mr & Mrs J Cotton 66/1
8 SANTENAY Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls Hon Mrs Townshend 8/1
9 WAHIBA SANDS Jim Culloty Martin Pipe The Johnson Family 33/1
10 PALARSHAN Ricjard Johnson Henry Daly Mrs A L Wood 15/2
11 LATALOMNE Jamie Moore Martin Pipe Alderclad, Everitt et al 14/1
12 GET ONE TOO Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Sir Eric & Mary Anne Parker 8/1
13 KANDJAR D'ALLIER Ben Hitchcott Milton Harris Mr A R Trotter 100/1
14 NASHINANNIKIN Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith Mr W G Young 50/1
15 HIT AND RUN Tom Scudamore Martin Pipe Gerry Scanlon, Miss J Kirk 50/1
16 FADOUDAL DU COCHET Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore Sir Anthony O'Reilly 25/1
17 JUNGLI Jimmy McCarthy Paul Webber Mrs P Starkey 50/1
18 IBAL Leighton Aspell Mrs N Smith Tony Hayward, Barry Fulton 50/1
19 SIMPLY GIFTED Graham Lee Jonjo O'Neill Mr Steve Hammond 10/1
20 SEEBALD Tony McCoy Martin Pipe Macca & Growler Partners 12/1
21 TANGO ROYAL Rodi Greene Martin Pipe Mr B A Kilpatrick 50/1

Won by 2 1/2 lengths and 7 lengths

 Over round 132%

The 2004 Grand Annual was held on Thursday 18th March 2004