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 2016 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SOLAR IMPULSE Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls Andrea & Graham Wylie 28/1
2 DANDRIDGE Davy Russell Arthur Moore (Ire) Mr Ronnie Bartlett 8/1
3 ROCK THE WORLD Robbie Power Jessica Harrington (Ire) Mr Michael Buckley 9/2
4 SAVELLO Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton S Smith & S Compion 25/1
5 PEARLS LEGEND Jamie Moore John Spearing The Corsairs 33/1
6 RED SPINNER David Bass Kim Bailey Paul & Clare Rooney 33/1
7 DRESDEN James Davies Henry Oliver Mr Dan Lloyd 33/1
8 WORKBENCH Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Mr N W Lake 33/1
9 EASTLAKE Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 12/1
10 LOUGH KENT Nico De Boinville Nicky Henderson Mrs Caroline Mould 12/1
11 RAVEN'S TOWER Brendan Powell Ben Pauling Faithful Friends 25/1
12 VELVET MAKER Adrian Heskin Alan Fleming Mr Barry Connell 8/1
13 DUNRAVEN STORM Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs Mrs Karola Vann 50/1
14 NEXT SENSATION Tom Scudamore Michael Scudamore Mr Mark Blandford 8/1
15 SURF & TURF Brian Hughes Kevin Frost Mr Richard Hobson 100/1
16 ARTHUR'S OAK Liam Treadwell Venitia Williams Mrs J K Burt 20/1
17 GERMANY CALLING Aidan Coleman Charlie Longsden Mr Tyrone Hanlon 33/1
18 BRIGHT NEW DAWN Brian Cooper Gordon Elliott (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 16/1
19 CROCO BAY Kielan Woods Ben Case Lady Jane Grosvenor 20/1
20 BOLD HENRY Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mr John P McManus 40/1
21 GARDEFORT Alain Cowley Venetia Williams Mr A Brooks 40/1
22 CHRIS PEA GREEN Josh Moore Gary Moore C Green & Galloping 16/1
23 THE SAINT JAMES Mark Walsh Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 14/1
24 SIZLING CODELCO Jonathan Burke Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Ann & Alan Potts

Won by 3 3/4 lengths and 1/2 length

 Over round 135%

The 2016 Grand Annual was held on Friday 18th March 2016